Category: Entertainers, Theater and Music
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Dolores Collins Benjamin
1913-2007 Founded the North Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club. Founded in her Newark, N.J. home in 1939, the all-male African-American choral group is one of the nation’s longest continuously performing ensembles of its kind. Bibliography Obituary, News-Herald, December 14, 2007. Kukla, Barbara. Sounds of Music: The Dolores Collins Benjamin Story Kukla, Barbara. “Dolores Collins Benjamin Glee…
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Eugenia “Jeanne/Jean” (Byrd) Dawkins
c. 1926-1978 Eugenia Dawkins owned the Key Club, one of Newark’s most famous jazz clubs, with her husband. She ran the club after her husband died In 1976 she was named Newark’s Woman of the Year and received a Key to the City. In 1977, she organized the “Newark Salutes Jazz” festival. Eugenia was a…
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Clara L Scudder
1874-1930 Clara L Scudder was very accomplished on the piano and organ. She learned from her father David Scudder who was a member of Craig’s Orchestra. She went to Scotland and Europe to play in 1901-1902 (she appears on the 1901 Scotland Census as a visitor to Mary Jane Cargill in Glasgow) and William Ashby…
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Bernice Maxwell Cross
c. 1918-2011 Bernice Cross worked at the Star Ledger all her life, from 1939 to 2004. She coordinated several sections of the paper as part of the editorial staff. She also served as a receptionist. For many years she was also a popular soprano singer, who enjoyed singing in choirs. Bernice was one of the…
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Bernice Bass
1926-2000 Bernice Bass (right) had a major presence in the city’s music, radio, & political scenes. Bernice had a Sunday evening radio program on WNJR: News & Views playing gospel, commentary and interviews, causing the Star Ledger to call her, “one of the city’s most influential newswoman” upon her death. She interviewed both Martin Luther…
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Mrs. (Lena) Parker O. Griffith
c. 1880-1960 Mrs. (Lena) Parker O. Griffith (c. 1880-1960) created the Griffith Music Foundation which brought nationally recognized musicians to Newark and sponsored educational programs and a yearly student music contest. Lena was active in promoting music from the 1930s and organized the foundation in 1938. She was also an organizer of the Essex County…
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Sarah Vaughan
1924-1990 Sarah Vaughan described as having “one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century.” Vaughan grew up in Newark and attended Arts High, many of her first performances were in Newark. In 1930, she lived at 9 Brunswick Street, and 1940 at 72 Brunswick St. In 1950, the family is listed at 2…
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Maria Jeritza Seery
1887-1982 Renowned Czech soprano Maria Jeritza lived in the Newark Forest Hill from 1948 until her death in 1982, after her marriage to umbrella manufacturing Irving Seery, who died in 1966. Maria’s rapid rise to fame, beauty and personality earned her the nickname “The Moravian Thunderbolt”. She performed throughout Europe and the United States, and…