Lonette McKee facts for kids

Lonette Rita McKee, born on July 22, 1954, is a talented American actress and singer. She began her film career in 1976. Her first major movie role was playing Sister Williams in the musical-drama film Sparkle.

Lonette McKee has appeared in many other well-known films. These include Which Way Is Up? (1977), The Cotton Club (1984), Brewster's Millions (1985), Jungle Fever (1991), Malcolm X (1992), and Honey (2003).

She made history on Broadway in 1983. Lonette McKee was the first African American actress to play the important role of Julie in the musical Show Boat. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She also starred in other stage productions like The First and played Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. Throughout her career, Lonette McKee has also received nominations for three Drama Desk awards and three NAACP Image Awards.

Early Life and Education

Lonette McKee was born in Detroit, Michigan. She is the second of three daughters. Her mother, Dorothy McKee, was of Swedish descent. Her father, Lonnie McKee, was an African American bricklayer and worked for a car company.

Lonette's older sister, Kathrine "Kathy" McKee, is also an actress and performer. Lonette McKee went to St Martin De Porres High School. However, she left after her first year. She then moved to Los Angeles, California, to live with her older sister. When she was a young girl, Lonette performed at dances and small clubs in Detroit. Her mother helped her with these early performances.

Lonette McKee's Career

Lonette McKee's career started in music when she was very young. She was a child prodigy in Detroit. She began writing music and lyrics, singing, and playing keyboards at age seven. In 1968, when she was 14, Lonette recorded her first song. It was called "Stop! (Don't Worry About It)". This song quickly became a popular regional pop and R&B hit. When she was fifteen, Lonette wrote the main song for the film Quadroon. Her sister Katherine McKee starred in that movie.

Becoming a Star in Film

Several years later, Lonette McKee became famous. This happened because of her praised performance in the 1976 musical drama film Sparkle. Her career continued to grow from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. She starred with famous comedian Richard Pryor in the 1977 comedy film Which Way Is Up?. She also appeared in the 1985 comedy film Brewster's Millions.

During this time, Lonette McKee played African American women who were passing as white. She did this in Julie Dash's 1982 short film, Illusions. She also played such a role in Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 musical crime drama The Cotton Club.

Music and Directing Work

Lonette McKee has written and produced three solo music albums. Her album Natural Love was released in 1992. It was produced for Spike Lee's 40 Acres and A Mule label. A music reviewer, Ed Hogan, said that Natural Love showed her wide range of musical styles. McKee also helped write all the songs on this album.

She composed music for a well-known TV documentary. This documentary was about the Lower Manhattan African Burial Ground. Lonette McKee has also toured around the world. She has sung in many concerts, including the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. She studied film directing at The New School in New York. She also learned directing by working with filmmaker Spike Lee. Lonette McKee also studied singing and ballet in Los Angeles. In 2007, she appeared on the TV show The Game. She played Mrs. Pitts, the mother of a character named Jason.

Broadway and Stage Success

Lonette McKee received great reviews for her first Broadway performance. This was in the musical The First in 1981. She co-starred as Jackie Robinson's wife, Rachel. In 1983, she became the first African American to play Julie in Show Boat on Broadway. This role earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

McKee's powerful portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday was also highly praised. This was in the one-woman show Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. She received standing ovations and a 1987 Drama Desk Award nomination for this role. She played Julie again in the 1994 Broadway revival of Show Boat. This production was directed by Hal Prince. In 2012, she starred in Sowa’s Red Gravy.

In 2013, Lonette McKee shared her wish to create a performance arts center. This center would be in the New York area. She performs her one-woman show, which includes music and stories from her life. She also produced her first full-length film, Dream Street. She wrote and directed this movie herself.

Personal Life

Lonette McKee has been married once and does not have children. She was married to Leo Compton, a youth counselor. They were married from February 1983 to 1990. In the mid-1990s, she lived in New York City with her partner, musician Bryant McNeil. They met while working on her Natural Love album.

Lonette McKee teaches an acting workshop at Centenary College of New Jersey. She is a professor in the Theater Arts department there.

Discography

• Lonette (Sussex, 1974)
• Words and Music (Warner Bros., 1978)
• Natural Love (40 Acres and a Mule/Columbia, 1992)

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Lonette McKee para niños