Eartha Kitt Passes

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Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died, a family spokesman said. She was 81.
Her career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television. She persevered through an unhappy childhood as a mixed-race daughter of the South and made headlines in the 1960s for denouncing the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House....

Eartha Kitt, Sultry 'Santa Baby' Singer, Dies

I loved her so much! When I was a little girl I was crrrrazy about catwomen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiyrQAYSmqI

My father took me to see her perform when I was a little girl, and although I was enthralled by the spectacular woman onstage in her red beaded gown, I didn't realize who she was until she came over to our table and said, "Hello, little girrrl. Your fatherrr told me you want to meeeeet me." I went nuts--Catwoman actually spoke to me!

A huge influence on neo-burlesque:




And a song I danced to in strip joints literally hundreds of times:


An amazing fiery woman in every way.

Posted by Jo Weldon, Headmistress of The New York School of Burlesque, for burlesquedaily.blogspot.com.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I had the opportunity to see her perform at Cafe Carlyle a few months ago. I had no idea what to expect considering her age, but she was fierce-I told her so after the show. She seemed a little tired or agitated though and now I wonder if that was the sickness...

When she passed away I thought of you, so I hope you're okay.
January 1, 2009 at 1:44 AM
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