Barbara McNair(1934-2007)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Popular African-American vocalist and entertainer Barbara McNair
dazzled audiences with her singing prowess and exceptional beauty for
well over four decades until her death on February 4, 2007 of throat
cancer in Los Angeles. The Chicago-born entertainer and one-time
secretary was raised in Racine, Wisconsin, one of five children born to
Horace and Claudia Taylor McNair. She sang in her church choir and was
encouraged by her parents to pursue voice. Following music studies at
the Racine Conservatory of Music and the American Conservatory of Music
in her hometown Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles and attended USC
before relocating once again to New York to pursue her dream.
Barbara worked her way up from typist to singer of small supper clubs
to headlining large showrooms as one of America's more visible singers
of the late 50s and 60s. A jazz stylist influenced by the great
Sarah Vaughan at first, she gently
eased into popular music. Her first big break came with a week-long gig
on Arthur Godfrey's talent show, which
led to bookings at The Purple Onion, The Persian Room and L.A.'s
Cocoanut Grove. She began receiving invites on the TV variety circuit
('Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town," "The Dean Martin Show" and "The
Tonight Show") and made it to Broadway with the musicals "The Body
Beautiful" (1958) and "No Strings" (1962), replacing original star
Diahann Carroll in the latter. At
different times she recorded on the Coral, Signature and Motown labels
resulting in such modest hits as "You're Gonna Love My Baby" and
"Bobby."
In the late 60s Barbara made a choice to scout out acting roles, hoping
to parlay her singing success into a movie career. The singer showed
initial promise as a sexy lead alongside
Raymond St. Jacques in the gritty
crime drama
If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968)
in which she made news with her celebrated nude sequences. She also
wore a nun's habit alongside
Mary Tyler Moore in
Elvis Presley's last feature film
Change of Habit (1969), and
appeared opposite Sidney Poitier as
Virgil Tibbs' wife in both
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)
and The Organization (1971). A
warm, inviting presence, she pioneered her own syndicated musical TV
show
The Barbara McNair Show (1969),
a rarity at the time for a black entertainer, and guested on all the
popular TV programs of the day including "Mission: Impossible,"
"Hogan's Heroes" and "I Spy."
The early 1970s were a difficult time for Barbara when offers suddenly
stopped coming in and her husband/manager, who had mob affiliations,
was shot and killed in 1976. Barbara went on to appear in such stage
musicals as "The Pajama Game" and "Sophisticated Ladies", and was also
seen in a recurring role for a time on
General Hospital (1963) in
later years. She was also spotted in a couple of obscure films in the
80s and 90s. Barbara's love of performing continued even in lesser
venues -- cabaret clubs, cruise ships, special events and even
retirement centers in Florida -- still sporting her stunning looks and
vocal sparkle. In 2006 she opened for
Bob Newhart in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Married four times in all, Barbara died at age 72 and was survived by
husband, Charles Blecka.
dazzled audiences with her singing prowess and exceptional beauty for
well over four decades until her death on February 4, 2007 of throat
cancer in Los Angeles. The Chicago-born entertainer and one-time
secretary was raised in Racine, Wisconsin, one of five children born to
Horace and Claudia Taylor McNair. She sang in her church choir and was
encouraged by her parents to pursue voice. Following music studies at
the Racine Conservatory of Music and the American Conservatory of Music
in her hometown Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles and attended USC
before relocating once again to New York to pursue her dream.
Barbara worked her way up from typist to singer of small supper clubs
to headlining large showrooms as one of America's more visible singers
of the late 50s and 60s. A jazz stylist influenced by the great
Sarah Vaughan at first, she gently
eased into popular music. Her first big break came with a week-long gig
on Arthur Godfrey's talent show, which
led to bookings at The Purple Onion, The Persian Room and L.A.'s
Cocoanut Grove. She began receiving invites on the TV variety circuit
('Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town," "The Dean Martin Show" and "The
Tonight Show") and made it to Broadway with the musicals "The Body
Beautiful" (1958) and "No Strings" (1962), replacing original star
Diahann Carroll in the latter. At
different times she recorded on the Coral, Signature and Motown labels
resulting in such modest hits as "You're Gonna Love My Baby" and
"Bobby."
In the late 60s Barbara made a choice to scout out acting roles, hoping
to parlay her singing success into a movie career. The singer showed
initial promise as a sexy lead alongside
Raymond St. Jacques in the gritty
crime drama
If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968)
in which she made news with her celebrated nude sequences. She also
wore a nun's habit alongside
Mary Tyler Moore in
Elvis Presley's last feature film
Change of Habit (1969), and
appeared opposite Sidney Poitier as
Virgil Tibbs' wife in both
They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)
and The Organization (1971). A
warm, inviting presence, she pioneered her own syndicated musical TV
show
The Barbara McNair Show (1969),
a rarity at the time for a black entertainer, and guested on all the
popular TV programs of the day including "Mission: Impossible,"
"Hogan's Heroes" and "I Spy."
The early 1970s were a difficult time for Barbara when offers suddenly
stopped coming in and her husband/manager, who had mob affiliations,
was shot and killed in 1976. Barbara went on to appear in such stage
musicals as "The Pajama Game" and "Sophisticated Ladies", and was also
seen in a recurring role for a time on
General Hospital (1963) in
later years. She was also spotted in a couple of obscure films in the
80s and 90s. Barbara's love of performing continued even in lesser
venues -- cabaret clubs, cruise ships, special events and even
retirement centers in Florida -- still sporting her stunning looks and
vocal sparkle. In 2006 she opened for
Bob Newhart in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Married four times in all, Barbara died at age 72 and was survived by
husband, Charles Blecka.