Florence Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florence Mills
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| Born |
Florence Winfrey
January 25, 1896 Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Died | November 1, 1927 (aged 31) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Other names | Florence Mills |
| Occupation | Singer, dancer, entertainer |
| Years active | 1901–1927 |
| Spouse(s) | Ulysses "Slow Kid" Thompson (m. 1921–27) |
Florence Mills (born Florence Winfrey; January 25, 1896 – November 1, 1927) was a famous American singer, dancer, and comedian. People called her the "Queen of Happiness" because of her bright and joyful performances. She became a huge star in the 1920s, known for her amazing talent and charming personality.
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Life and Career of Florence Mills
Florence Mills was born in 1896 in Washington, D.C.. Her parents, Nellie and John Winfrey, had been enslaved before she was born. Florence loved to perform from a very young age.
Early Performances and Vaudeville
When Florence was just six years old, she started singing duets with her two older sisters, Olivia and Maude. They formed a group called the Mills Sisters. They performed in vaudeville shows, which were popular variety shows with different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy. The Mills Sisters performed in many theaters along the East Coast.
Eventually, Florence's sisters stopped performing. But Florence was determined to make a career in show business. She joined other groups, including the Panama Four, and later the Tennessee Ten, a traveling Black show. In 1917, she met a talented dancer named Ulysses "Slow Kid" Thompson. They got married in 1921 and stayed together until her death.
Becoming a Broadway Star
Florence became very famous in New York City after appearing in the Broadway musical Shuffle Along in 1921. This show was a big part of the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a time when Black artists, writers, and musicians created amazing works in Harlem, New York.
Critics loved Florence's performances in Shuffle Along. She received great reviews not only in New York but also in cities like London and Paris. Florence often said that Shuffle Along was the show that truly launched her career.
International Fame and Blackbirds
After Shuffle Along, a promoter named Lew Leslie hired Florence and Ulysses to perform at the Plantation Club. This club featured many Black artists, including famous singers like Paul Robeson. In 1922, Leslie turned these nightclub acts into a Broadway show called The Plantation Revue.
An English theater producer, Charles B. Cochran, brought the Plantation cast to London in 1923. They performed in a show called Dover Street to Dixie. The show had a white cast in the first half and Florence starring with the Black Plantation cast in the second half.
In 1924, Florence performed at the famous Palace Theatre in New York. She became an international star with her hit show Lew Leslie's Blackbirds in 1926. Even the Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII) was a fan! He told the press he had seen Blackbirds 11 times.
Many Black newspapers admired Florence. They saw her as a role model. She was not just a great entertainer, but also an "ambassador of good will." She showed the world the amazing talent of Black people when given a chance.
Florence was featured in popular magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair. Her most famous song was "I'm a Little Blackbird Looking for a Bluebird." Another hit song was "I'm Cravin' for that Kind of Love."
Death and Lasting Impact
Florence Mills performed in over 300 shows of Blackbirds in London in 1926. This busy schedule made her very tired and she became ill. She passed away on November 1, 1927, in New York City, at the age of 31. Newspapers reported that she died from complications after an operation.
Her death shocked people around the world. The New York Times reported that more than 10,000 people visited the funeral home to pay their respects. Thousands attended her funeral, including many famous singers and dancers. Important figures like James Weldon Johnson, who led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, also sent their condolences. Florence Mills is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.
Her husband, Ulysses "Slow Kid" Thompson, was also a talented dancer. He managed Florence's career and traveled with her. After her death, he continued to perform around the world until the late 1930s. He lived a long life, passing away in 1990 at the age of 101.
Legacy of Florence Mills
Florence Mills is remembered for her amazing talent and for breaking down racial barriers. She was a strong supporter of equal rights for African Americans. Her signature song, "I'm a Little Blackbird," was seen as a plea for racial equality.
Many artists honored Florence after her death. Duke Ellington wrote a song called Black Beauty for her. Fats Waller also created a song called Bye Bye Florence. English composer Constant Lambert wrote a piano piece called Elegaic Blues in her tribute.
A theater named the Florence Mills Theatre opened in Los Angeles in 1930. A residential building in Harlem's Sugar Hill neighborhood is also named after her.
The island of Grenada even put Florence Mills on a postage stamp. Her life story has been told in books, including a children's book called Baby Flo: Florence Mills Lights Up the Stage.
See also
- Florence Mills House
- Flo-Bert Awards
