Phyllis Marshall facts for kids

Phyllis Irene Elizabeth Marshall (born November 4, 1921 – died February 2, 1996) was a talented Canadian singer and actor. She became one of the very first stars on Canadian television! The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada called her a "pioneer" among Black Canadian performers. Phyllis started singing when she was just 15 years old. She performed on stages in Canada and the United States. She also worked on TV and radio for big networks like CBC, CTV, and the BBC. In 1964, her music album That Girl even won a special award called a Juno Award.

Early Life and Learning

Phyllis Marshall was born on November 4, 1921, in Barrie, Ontario. Her parents were from the United States. When she was a child, Phyllis learned to play the piano. She was also a good athlete and enjoyed track and field sports. Later, her family moved to Toronto, where she went to Runnymede secondary school.

Her Amazing Career

A flyer for an event featuring Phyllis Marshall in 1966.

Phyllis Marshall started her singing career at age 15. She first sang on a radio station in Toronto called CRCT. Later, she performed on CBC Radio with a famous musician named Percy Faith. In 1938, she sang at the Silver Slipper nightclub in Toronto.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Phyllis sang jazz music. She even toured the United States with the Cab Calloway Orchestra. She also performed on stage in Toronto. From 1949 to 1952, she was a regular singer on a CBC Radio show. It was first called Blues for Friday and later Starlight Moods. In 1959, she had her own TV show on the BBC, called The Phyllis Marshall Special.

Phyllis also became an actor. Her acting career began in 1956 at the Crest Theatre in Toronto. She appeared in a CBC play called The Amen Corner. She also acted in the CBC Television show Paul Bernard, Psychiatrist and the CBS/CTV show Night Heat.

In 1964, Phyllis released her jazz album That Girl. This album was very popular and won a Juno Award, which is a big music award in Canada.

Phyllis Marshall was one of the first Canadian television stars. The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada called her a "pioneer" because she was one of the first Black Canadian performers to achieve such fame. In an interview in 1960, she said that she had never faced unfair treatment because of her race during her career.

Family and Later Life

Phyllis Marshall had a daughter named Sharon Lee Marshall, who became a model.

Phyllis married Ed McGibbon, who worked for the CBC. They lived in the Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario.

Phyllis Marshall passed away on February 2, 1996, in Toronto. She was 74 years old.