Hattie King Reavis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hattie King Reavis
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Reavis in 1919
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Hattie Beatrice King
November 18, 1890 Woodsworth, Vance County, North Carolina
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| Died | March 12, 1970 (aged 79) New York City
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| Nationality | American |
| Other names | H. King Reavis, Hattie Beatrice Reavis |
| Occupation | singer, actress |
| Years active | 1919-1949 |
Hattie King Reavis (born November 18, 1890 – died March 12, 1970) was an American singer, songwriter, and theater performer. She was also known as H. King Reavis or Hattie Beatrice Reavis.
She performed with other African American artists in New York City during the 1920s. Hattie also toured Europe until 1930 and made recordings with Black Swan Records. Besides singing, she helped find new members for the Southern Syncopated Orchestra. Later, she managed the career of singer Urylee Leonardos. From the 1930s to the late 1940s, she acted in many New York shows. These included the 1932 Broadway revival of Show Boat and several performances of On Strivers Row by Abram Hill. In 2019, some of her recordings were made digital and released again.
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Hattie Beatrice King was born in Woodsworth, North Carolina. Her birthday was November 18, 1890. Her parents were Lucy Davis and Wiley King. She married Stephen J. Reavis on July 8, 1914. Their wedding took place in Manhattan, New York.
Singing Career and Tours
In March 1919, Hattie Reavis was hired as a soprano singer. She joined the Southern Syncopated Orchestra. The orchestra toured places like Ohio and Indiana. They performed in Chicago at Orchestra Hall on April 20.
Touring England and Europe
The orchestra then traveled to England. Hattie sailed on the SS Northland. She arrived in Liverpool in June. Their first show in London was in July. A reviewer praised Hattie's singing of Swanee River.
She performed in many London venues. These included Buckingham Palace and the Royal Albert Hall. Critics gave her good reviews. In December, the orchestra toured Scotland. They played in Glasgow and Edinburgh. They also performed in Liverpool.
Hattie continued to receive good reviews. A critic called her a "colored prima donna". They said her song Listen to the Lambs was "exquisitely rendered." Another reviewer noted she got two standing ovations. This was for her song Sinner, Please, Don' Let dis Harvest Pass. Her songs included Dear Old Pal of Mine and The Awakening.
Recruiting and Surviving a Shipwreck
From January 1921, Hattie also worked as a talent scout. She found new members for the orchestra. Some of these were Elmer Certain and Walter Bernard Williams. Sadly, Williams died in October 1921. He was on the SS Rowan when it sank. The ship crashed near Corsewall Point. Hattie was on board but survived. She lost her passport in the accident.
After this, she continued touring. She performed with the orchestra in Vienna in 1921 and 1922. She also sang in Prague and Budapest. Hattie returned to the United States on December 13, 1922.
Recordings and Acting
Hattie Reavis began recording songs in 1921. She worked with Harry Pace's Black Swan Records. She was chosen for their "Red Label" series. In 1922, her recording was released. It included There Is a Green Hill Far Away. She also sang I'm So Glad in 1923.
Theater Performances
In 1923, Hattie played the main role in The Sheik of Harlem. This was a musical at Harlem's Lafayette Theatre. A critic praised her singing in the show. She also sang a tribute song to President Warren G. Harding. Audiences really liked it.
Throughout 1924, Hattie sang at churches. She performed in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. In 1925, she got good reviews for her role in Chocolate Dandies. She then returned to Europe in December.
More European Tours
In 1926, she performed in Berlin and Zurich. These shows were part of a revue called Black People. She then toured with the Creole Review. This tour went to Norway, Sweden, Russia, and Italy. It also visited Egypt, Turkey, and Greece. She was joined by Amanda Ida Aldridge in London in 1928. They performed one of Hattie's own songs. In April 1930, she came back to the U.S. from Gibraltar.
Later Acting Roles
In 1930, Hattie performed in Brownskin Models of 1931. This show was at the Lafayette Theater. In 1932, she gave recitals and acted. She was part of the touring company for Show Boat.
She appeared in Abram Hill's On Strivers Row in 1940. This show was at the New York Public Library in Harlem. She also performed in a second production in 1946. Hattie continued to act until the late 1940s. She also wrote songs. After retiring from singing in 1949, she managed the career of Urylee Leonardos.
Death and Legacy
Hattie Reavis passed away on March 12, 1970. She died in New York City. In 2019, her recordings were chosen for a CD. The CD was called Black Swans. It was produced by Parnassus Records.
The CD included 22 performances. These were taken from old 78-rpm records. They were digitally cleaned up. This helped modern audiences hear these rare recordings.
Discography
- "There Is a Green Hill" by Gounod / "Make More Room Anon" (1921)
- "There is a Green Hill Far Away" by Gounod / "I'm So Glad Trouble Doesn't Last Always" (1922)
- "I'm So Glad" (1923)
