Paul Gladney was a dancer, comedian, writer, social critic and actor best known by his stage name Paul Mooney. Gladney was born on August 4, 1941, in Shreveport, Louisiana to teenage parents George Gladney and LaVoya Ealy. Along with his brother Rudy, mother and grandparents, … Read MorePaul (Mooney) Gladney (1941-2021)
Dante Terrell Smith was born on December 11, 1973, to Sheron Smith and Abdul Rahman Smith in Brooklyn, New York. Smith began rapping at the age of nine, and by the age of fourteen, he became a child actor, appearing in the ABC network television … Read MoreMos Def/Dante Terrell Smith (1973 – )
Lana Michele Moorer is an American DJ, rapper, and actress best known under the stage name MC Lyte. Moorer was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 11, 1970, and by the age of twelve she began rapping using her book of poems and rhymes, … Read MoreMC Lyte/ Lana Moorer (1970- )
Composer, baritone, pianist, lyricist, and actor John Legend was born John Roger Stephens on December 28, 1978, in Springfield, Ohio, to Ronald Lamar Stephens, a percussionist, and handcrafter and Phyllis Elaine Lloyd, a seamstress and Choir Director. He was surrounded by music at home and … Read MoreJohn Legend (1978- )
Johnny Lester (Johnny) Nash Jr. was a singer-songwriter and actor, best known for his 1972 hit song “I Can See Clearly Now.” Nash was born on August 19, 1940 in Houston, Texas, to Eliza (Armstrong) and John Lester Nash. He sang in his church choir … Read MoreJohnny Nash (1940-2020)
Vonetta McGee was a talented actress now best remembered as a popular leading lady in blaxploitation films such as Hammer (1972), Blacula (1972), and Shaft in Africa (1973).” Born Lawrence Vonetta McGee on January 14, 1945 to parents Lawrence and Alma (Scott) McGee, she grew … Read MoreVonetta McGee (1945-2010)
Ron O’Neal was a charismatic and gifted actor who never fulfilled the early promise he had shown on the New York Off-Broadway stage following his appearance as a flashy drug dealer in the hit blaxploitation film Super Fly (1972), the role that made him a … Read MoreRon O’Neal (1937-2004)
Darryl Lynn Hughley, also known as D.L. Hughley, is a standup comedian, actor, political commentator, and radio host. Hughley was born on March 6, 1963 to Audrey and Charles Hughley in Portsmouth, Virginia. His family stayed in Portsmouth for two months before moving to Los … Read MoreDarryl Lynn (D.L.) Hughley (1963- )
Loletha Elayne Falana, famously known as actress, singer, dancer and model Lola Falana, was born on September 11, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey. Falana’s mother and father are of African-American and Afro-Cuban heritage respectively. Falana was born the third of six children and got her … Read MoreLola Falana (1942- )
Tyler Perry is a world-renowned actor, director, producer, writer, and philanthropist. Born Emmitt Perry, Jr. on September 13, 1969 to Willie Maxine Campbell Perry and Emmitt Perry, Sr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, Perry changed his name to Tyler to distance himself from his father. Perry’s … Read MoreTyler Perry (1969- )
