B.J. Crosby facts for kids

B.J. Crosby was an American singer and actress. She was born Joanne Crayton on November 23, 1952. She passed away on March 27, 2015. B.J. Crosby was known for her powerful voice. She sang jazz and other styles of music. In 1995, she was nominated for a Tony Award. This was for her role in the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe. She sang famous songs like "Hound Dog" and "Fools Fall in Love" in the show.

Early Life and Start in Music

B.J. Crosby was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. When she was young, she started singing in church choirs. She also performed in local theaters during the 1970s and 1980s. She chose "B.J. Crosby" and "Lady BJ" as her stage names.

In the late 1970s, B.J. Crosby was the main singer for a band called Spectrum. This band played R&B and jazz music. In the mid-1980s, she made an album called The New Orleans Music. She worked on this album with Ellis Marsalis Jr. and Germaine Bazzle.

Moving to the Big City

In 1987, B.J. Crosby moved to Los Angeles. She wanted to follow her dreams of singing and acting there. To earn money, she sang "demo" versions of songs. These are like practice recordings for other songwriters.

In 1995, she moved to New York City. This is where she joined the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe. Her amazing performance earned her a nomination for a Tony Award. The Tony Awards celebrate the best shows on Broadway. The official album for Smokey Joe's Cafe also won a Grammy Award. This is a big award for music. In 1996, she was invited to sing in London. She performed at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the famous songwriter Ira Gershwin.

More Broadway and TV Roles

After her success, B.J. Crosby performed in two more Broadway shows. She played Matron "Mama" Morton in the musical Chicago in 1996. In 2002, she was Ma Reed in One Mo' Time. She also went on national tours for other musicals. One of her roles was Effie in Dreamgirls.

Besides theater, she appeared on many TV shows. She had guest roles on popular shows like Ally McBeal, The Cosby Show, Family Matters, Gimme a Break!, Law & Order, and Mad About You. In 1984, she had her own TV special called "Lady BJ Sings Lady Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday." This special won a CableACE Award.

In 2007, B.J. Crosby released her first solo album. It was called Best of Your Heart. The album had new songs and covers of songs by other artists. Later that year, she performed as a special singer at a jazz cafe in Istanbul, Turkey.

Later Life and Passing

B.J. Crosby moved back to her hometown of New Orleans in 2007. In 2008, she had a stroke. This made it hard for her to sing and move her right side. She never fully got her singing voice back.

B.J. Crosby passed away on March 27, 2015. She was 62 years old. She died from health problems related to diabetes and the stroke. She is remembered by her son, Joseph Elloie, and her six grandchildren.