Neliska Ann Briscoe facts for kids

Neliska Ann Briscoe (born April 7, 1914 – died August 25, 1994) was an amazing American dancer. She also led jazz bands and was a smart businesswoman. Neliska was known for her energetic performances and for breaking barriers in the music world.

Early Life and Start in Show Business

Neliska Ann Briscoe was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her father, Eddie Briscoe, worked with meat. Her mother, Neliska Thomas, was a cook and housekeeper from Mexico. Neliska had two half-brothers and a sister who sadly died young.

Neliska started performing very early, around age nine. She danced in a club where her uncle, Escaliere Thomas, worked part-time. This is how she got the nickname "Baby," which she used throughout her career. Sometimes people called her "Babe."

Rising Star: Dancing in New Orleans

As a child, Neliska performed in New Orleans at the St. Bernard Alley Cabaret. She was an acrobatic dancer in a big show. She was the only child performer there. Neliska was a natural on stage.

She kept dancing and singing in other New Orleans clubs. These included the Astoria, Entertainers, and the Owl. Even as a young teenager, newspapers often said she was the main reason people came to these clubs.

Moving to New York City

In February 1931, when she was seventeen, Neliska moved to New York City. She wanted to become a professional dancer. She found work at the famous Small's Paradise Club.

After some time, she had to take a break from work to recover from an injury. In 1933, she went back to her hometown of New Orleans. There, she became very famous in the local jazz scene. People even called her "the Sweetheart of New Orleans."

Leading a Jazz Band

A famous pianist named Joe Robichaux hired Neliska. He asked her to lead his band, the New Orleans Rhythm Boys. This group sometimes had up to fifteen members. Three of them were women: Neliska, Joan Lunceford (a singer), and Ann Cooper (a trumpet player).

Neliska wore her special tuxedo, which became her trademark look. She worked as a tap dancer, entertaining the crowd. She danced in front of Robichaux's band during and between their music sets.

Neliska worked with Joe Robichaux for almost five years. Then, in early 1938, she joined another group called the Harlem Playgirls.

Touring with the Harlem Playgirls

The Harlem Playgirls were an all-woman African American band. They were based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This band toured all over the country. They were very popular and got great reviews from critics.

From 1938 to 1940, Neliska led the band. She wore her tuxedo and carried a baton. They performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City on Thanksgiving Day in 1938. They also played in smaller places like Frederick, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Youngstown, Ohio; and Jackson, Tennessee. The Harlem Playgirls often performed at the Tick Tock Tavern in New Orleans. By this time, Neliska was not just dancing in front of the band. She was a true band leader, guiding the musicians.

Personal Life and New Ventures

After touring for two years with the Harlem Playgirls, Neliska returned to New Orleans. There, she met a man named David "Val" Mouton. He was a merchant mariner, which means he worked on ships.

At the height of her success, Neliska decided to leave show business. She married David in 1942. They had two daughters, Avon ("Vonnie") and Debra, and a son named Hodges. Neliska strongly believed in the right to vote. She registered to vote in New Orleans in 1948.

A Successful Businesswoman

Neliska divorced her husband in 1950. After the divorce, she and her daughters lived with her mother in New Orleans. Neliska then became a very successful businesswoman.

She studied cosmetology, which is about hair and beauty. She also ran a gift shop called Avon and Debra's Gift Shop, named after her daughters. Neliska also owned a small restaurant. She even worked as a seamstress, making beautiful ball gowns for Mardi Gras celebrations.

Later Years and Continued Passion

In 1957, Neliska married Clarence Casimire. She had known him since she was young. Her half-brother, Joseph Mitchell, performed their wedding ceremony. He was a co-founder of the Christian Mission Baptist Church in New Orleans.

Soon after they married, the couple moved to Cleveland. Neliska's daughters and Clarence's daughter from a previous marriage moved with them. They later had one son together. Even though she had retired from the stage, Neliska still loved to perform. In her sixties, she started learning to play the saxophone. She could still do splits on her seventy-fifth birthday! She even danced on her eightieth birthday.

In 1994, Neliska was hospitalized with bone cancer. She passed away on August 25, 1994, four months after her 80th birthday.

Awards and Special Recognition

In 2004, Neliska Briscoe was honored in a special exhibition. This exhibition celebrated the Women of Jazz at the National Historic Jazz Park in New Orleans.

To remember her ten years after her death, her daughters created something special. They set up the Baby Briscoe Scholarship Fund at Tulane University. This fund helps students with their education.