Larry Steele (producer) facts for kids

Larry Steele (born in 1913, died in 1980) was an American songwriter, composer, and impresario. He was famous for creating amazing all-black variety shows. People called him the "Black Flo Ziegfeld" because his shows were so dazzling.

Steele toured with his group called Smart Affairs from 1947 to 1970. Many famous performers were part of Smart Affairs, including Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Sara Vaughan, and Lou Rawls. As a songwriter, Larry Steele wrote more than 200 songs during his career.

Life and Career

Early Life

Larry Steele was born in 1913 and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a barber and did not want him to work in show business. Larry's father and his five sisters hoped he would become a lawyer. He even planned to study law at Northwestern University.

However, his plans changed in 1934. He was offered a job for $3 a night as a singing master of ceremonies and bandleader. This job was at the Panama Café in the South Side of Chicago.

Smart Affairs Shows

Steele left Chicago in the mid-1940s. He helped organize entertainers on the Chitlin Circuit, which was a network of venues for African-American performers. By 1946, he was based in Atlantic City, New Jersey at Club Harlem. There, he launched his first Smart Affairs show in 1947.

At a time when black women were not often shown for their beauty and talents, Steele's Smart Affairs changed that. It gave black chorus girls, known as the "Beige Beauts," a chance to perform. The show also featured top black musical acts.

Smart Affairs started in small clubs and hotels. Soon, it toured all over the country and received great reviews. The show became a big success. It performed at famous places like the Flamingo Hotel in Miami, Chicago's Regal Theater, and Tivoli Theater. The troupe also toured internationally.

In 1960, it was thought that Steele's show earned between $400,000 and $500,000 a year. He employed 40 to 50 performers for most of the year. Smart Affairs included many different performers, such as Billy Daniels, Savannah Churchill, Freda Payne, Peg Leg Bates, Lola Falana, Cab Calloway, Arthur Lee Simpkins, Al Hibber, Olga James, Mabel Scott, and Sallie Blair.

In 1952, Smart Affairs was the only all-black show on Broadway after the Cotton Club closed.

In 1955 and 1956, the show was called Harlem Blackbirds when it performed in Australia. They were the first all-black show to tour Australia and New Zealand.

In 1962, the group started touring larger concert halls. This was to fit the bigger audiences who came to see comedians Dick Gregory and Damita Jo, who were headlining the show that year.

In 1968, Smart Affairs performed at Atlantic City's Steel Pier and the Tropicoro Room of the El San Juan in Puerto Rico. Performers included the Constellations, the Nicholas Brothers, and Anselmo Sacasas and his orchestra.

By 1969, Smart Affairs had two shows running at the same time. One was at Club Harlem in Atlantic City, and the other was at the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach. The last Smart Affairs show took place in 1970.

Later Life

In 1969, Steele started his own publishing company, Larste, in Chicago.

Larry Steele's wife, Nannie "Nana" Meyers Steele, passed away in 1972 after 35 years of marriage. She was a former choreographer and was the president of his company, Larry Steele Enterprises Inc. Larry Steele passed away in 1980 in a Chicago hospital. He was buried at Burr Oak Cemetery.

Honors

In 1961, Larry Steele received the Racial Dignity and Human Relations Award. This award was from Howard University's Alumni Association. He earned it for "projecting the true picture of Negro in travels abroad."

In 1975, Steele was honored with a special tribute show. It took place at Atlantic City's Holiday Inn. This event celebrated his many achievements in Black entertainment.