Emmett "Babe" Wallace facts for kids

Emmett "Babe" Wallace (1909–2006) was a talented American artist. He was a singer, stage performer, composer, actor, and poet. His amazing career lasted for many decades, and he performed in countries like Europe and Israel. He appeared in many plays and movies. The New York Public Library keeps a special collection of his papers at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

About Babe Wallace's Life

Emmett Wallace was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 24, 1909. His parents were George Bason and Inez Wallace. Before 1950, his first name was spelled "Emmett," but after that, it was spelled "Emett." He went to Manual Training High School in Brooklyn but could not finish his studies.

Early Jobs and Family

Before becoming famous, Wallace worked different jobs. He was a busboy, helping clear tables, and a messenger, delivering messages. He also worked as a bouncer at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, which meant he helped keep order at the popular dance hall. Wallace had two children, including a son named Michael Emmett Wallace, who was born in 1943.

His Career in Music and Film

In 1935, Wallace joined the cast of a show called Cotton Club Parade. He performed alongside the famous singer Lena Horne at the Cotton Club. Wallace was also a songwriter. He wrote the song "A Chicken Ain't Nothin' but a Bird," which was recorded by the legendary Louis Jordan in 1940. In 1945, he was scheduled to be on the "Gloom Dodgers" radio show on station WHN.

The New York Public Library has a collection of his papers and photographs. A famous photographer named Carl Van Vechten took pictures of Wallace, and these images are now kept at the Yale University Library. In 1940, Wallace was chosen to be the lead singer for the Ella Fitzgerald Orchestra on their tour.

Movies Babe Wallace Appeared In

Babe Wallace acted in several films during his career.

• The Black Network (1936)
• The Devil's Daughter (1939) playing John Lowden
• Stormy Weather (1943) playing Chick Bailey
• Rhythm in a Riff (1946)
• The Fight Never Ends (1948)

Songs Babe Wallace Wrote

Emmett Wallace was a talented composer who wrote many songs.

• "A Chicken Ain't Nothin' but a Bird"
• "Get It, Get It, I Love to See You With It"
• "That Feeling is Gone"
• "America Forever"
• "Bring Enough Clothes for Three Days" – This song was a hit when Timmie Rogers recorded it.
• "Dorie Miller" – This song was about the war hero Doris Miller.