Birleanna Blanks

Subject: Birleanna Blanks
From: GUEST,Sounder
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 12:22 PM

Looking for bio information and discography for Birleanna Blanks. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Birleanna Blanks
From: GUEST,Sounder
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 01:05 PM

No takers?

Subject: RE: Birleanna Blanks
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:47 PM

'BIRLEANNA BLANKS (Cunningham) 1889-1968 Cosmos
Half American Indian and half African American, Birleana Blanks was one of the first generation of African Americans to star in the musical comedy theater. Before 1920, she toured the vaudeville circuit teamed with her sister as a singing and dancing act. She then sang in a whole series of musical comedies at the Lafayette Theater in Harlem beginning with "Over the Top" in 1919 and then in other theaters in the mid 1920s.'

Google the name and you'll gets lotsa hits.

Subject: RE: Birleanna Blanks
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:49 PM

She appears on

Vocal Blues & Jazz, Vol. 3: 1921-1928

Subject: RE: Birleanna Blanks
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:50 PM

She does Mason-Dixon Blues on that album.

Subject: RE: Birleanna Blanks
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 07:52 PM

"Birleanna Blanks, vocals, d. 1968, New York, NY, USA. Age: 79. This half American Indian and half African American was one of the first 'Blacks' in the American musical comedy theatre. Before 1920, she teamed with her sister as a singing and dancing act touring the vaudeville circuit. In 1919, Birleanna sang in a whole series of musical comedies at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem (New York city) beginning with "Over the Top", and then in other Negro theatres during the mid-1920s. She later sang with bandleader Fletcher Henderson's orchestra before leaving the music business in 1928."