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Olivette Miller

January 01, 1970

Olivette N. Miller (February 2, 1914 – April 27, 2003), later Olivette Miller-Briggs, was an American musician, a swing harpist and singer.

Olivette Miller
Born(1914-02-02)February 2, 1914
Chicago, Illinois, US
DiedApril 27, 2003(2003-04-27) (aged 89)
North Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Other namesOlivette Miller-Briggs (after 1982)
OccupationMusician
Spouse(s)Sax Mallard, Bunny Briggs
Parent(s)Flournoy Miller, Bessie Oliver Miller
RelativesIrvin C. Miller (uncle)

Early life edit

Miller was born in Chicago (some sources say New York), the daughter of actor and writer Flournoy Miller and performer Bessie Oliver Miller.[1] Irvin C. Miller and Quintard Miller, both performers and producers, were her uncles.[2][3][4] She attended the Ethical Culture School in New York, and the East Greenwich Academy in Rhode Island. She pursued further studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She studied harp at Juilliard and in Paris with Marcel Tournier.[5][6]

Career edit

 
Gene Sedric, Cliff Jackson, Olivette Miller, and Josh White, Café Society (Downtown), New York, N.Y., ca. Mar. 1947 (William P. Gottlieb 15891)

Miller joined Noble Sissle's orchestra in 1937,[7] and toured with them in Europe with the USO during World War II.[5][8] She also played as a solo act,[9] and was billed as "the World's Greatest Swing Harpist" when she performed on tour and in Las Vegas in the 1940s and 1950s.[10][11][12] She appeared on Broadway in Africana (1934), on television on Toast of the Town (1955),[13] The Ed Sullivan Show (1962)and The Rosey Grier Show (1968), and in the film A Rage in Harlem (1991).

In 1972, Miller sued comedian Flip Wilson, Michael Jackson, and others for $500,000 for infringing on her father's intellectual property.[14] In 1974, she had a solo show in Reno. She wrote and tried to shepherd into production a biographical film about her father, focusing on how his comedy act was exploited by white producers.[15] In 1976 she wrote and co-produced The Show Folks, a syndicated situation comedy for television, starring her ex-husband, dancer Freddie Gordon, with Carole La Mond and DeForest Covan.[16]

Personal life edit

Olivette Miller was married numerous times, usually briefly. Her husbands were Orion N. Page (married 1930), Channing Price (married 1933), Athos B. Guy (married 1934), saxophonist Oett Mallard (married 1938), actor Freddie Gordon (divorced in 1952),[17] comedian Albert Gibson (married 1954),[13] Eric Darby, and tap dancer Bernard "Bunny" Briggs (married in 1982).[18][19] She had a son, Alvin Miller Mallard (1939–1943),[20] and daughter born in 1949.[6] Miller died in 2003, aged 89 years, in North Las Vegas, Nevada.[21] Her papers are part of the Flournoy E. Miller Papers at Emory University.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Olivette Miller Plays for Fisk University". California Eagle. 1948-06-10. p. 11. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Flournoy Miller collection". New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  3. ^ Wintz, Cary D.; Finkelman, Paul (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance: K-Y. Taylor & Francis. pp. 792–798. ISBN 978-1-57958-458-0.
  4. ^ "Flournoy Miller's Daughter, Harpist Olivette, Gets Award". Jet: 101. November 11, 1976.
  5. ^ a b Oakley, Annie (1950-07-22). "The Theatre and its People". The Windsor Star. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Wedman, Les (1949-11-02). "Her Ladder's Rungs are Sawed". The Province. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Big Harlem Show On Stage at State Wednesday Only". Hartford Courant. 1942-09-22. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Olivette Miller, Jazz Harpist, at Fisk University". The New York Age. 1948-06-05. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Chicago Lassies and Lads Invade the Motor City's Gay Night Life". Detroit Tribune. May 10, 1941. p. 9. Retrieved February 10, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  10. ^ "The Latin Quarter (advertisement)". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 1947-10-12. p. 62. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Elmwood (advertisement)". The Windsor Star. 1950-07-22. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "People". Jet: 30. June 8, 1955.
  13. ^ a b "Harpist Olivette Miller, Comic Bert Gibson on TV". Jet: 66. January 20, 1955.
  14. ^ "Flip, Michael Jackson named in $500,000 Suit". Jet: 54. December 14, 1972.
  15. ^ Rasmussen, Jeannie (1974-11-22). "Movie Features Black Comic". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. 51. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "'Show folks': New black comedy features 'Amos'". Tr-State Defender. May 1, 1976. p. 8 – via ProQuest.
  17. ^ "New York Beat". Jet: 63. August 21, 1952.
  18. ^ Hinckley, David (1990-08-14). "Their Contributions Won't Be Lost in 'Shuffle'". Daily News. p. 469. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Bunny Briggs, American tap dancer". Philadelphia Tribune. November 30, 2014. p. 10B – via ProQuest.
  20. ^ "Flournoy Miller's Grandson Passes". The New York Age. 1943-01-30. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-02-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Olivette Miller in Social Security Death Index".
  22. ^ "Flournoy E. Miller papers, 1924-1995 : Series 2: Olivette Miller papers, 1953-1995". Emory University Library finding aids. Retrieved 2021-02-10.

External links edit

  • Olivette Miller at IMDb
  • Olivette Miller at the Internet Broadway Database
  • A recording of Olivette Miller singing her own composition, "Look Up" , on YouTube.

January 01, 1970
olivette, miller, olivette, miller, february, 1914, april, 2003, later, briggs, american, musician, swing, harpist, singer, born, 1914, february, 1914chicago, illinois, usdiedapril, 2003, 2003, aged, north, vegas, nevada, usother, names, briggs, after, 1982, o. Olivette N Miller February 2 1914 April 27 2003 later Olivette Miller Briggs was an American musician a swing harpist and singer Olivette MillerBorn 1914 02 02 February 2 1914Chicago Illinois USDiedApril 27 2003 2003 04 27 aged 89 North Las Vegas Nevada USOther namesOlivette Miller Briggs after 1982 OccupationMusicianSpouse s Sax Mallard Bunny BriggsParent s Flournoy Miller Bessie Oliver MillerRelativesIrvin C Miller uncle Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editMiller was born in Chicago some sources say New York the daughter of actor and writer Flournoy Miller and performer Bessie Oliver Miller 1 Irvin C Miller and Quintard Miller both performers and producers were her uncles 2 3 4 She attended the Ethical Culture School in New York and the East Greenwich Academy in Rhode Island She pursued further studies at the University of Pennsylvania She studied harp at Juilliard and in Paris with Marcel Tournier 5 6 Career edit nbsp Gene Sedric Cliff Jackson Olivette Miller and Josh White Cafe Society Downtown New York N Y ca Mar 1947 William P Gottlieb 15891 Miller joined Noble Sissle s orchestra in 1937 7 and toured with them in Europe with the USO during World War II 5 8 She also played as a solo act 9 and was billed as the World s Greatest Swing Harpist when she performed on tour and in Las Vegas in the 1940s and 1950s 10 11 12 She appeared on Broadway in Africana 1934 on television on Toast of the Town 1955 13 The Ed Sullivan Show 1962 and The Rosey Grier Show 1968 and in the film A Rage in Harlem 1991 In 1972 Miller sued comedian Flip Wilson Michael Jackson and others for 500 000 for infringing on her father s intellectual property 14 In 1974 she had a solo show in Reno She wrote and tried to shepherd into production a biographical film about her father focusing on how his comedy act was exploited by white producers 15 In 1976 she wrote and co produced The Show Folks a syndicated situation comedy for television starring her ex husband dancer Freddie Gordon with Carole La Mond and DeForest Covan 16 Personal life editOlivette Miller was married numerous times usually briefly Her husbands were Orion N Page married 1930 Channing Price married 1933 Athos B Guy married 1934 saxophonist Oett Mallard married 1938 actor Freddie Gordon divorced in 1952 17 comedian Albert Gibson married 1954 13 Eric Darby and tap dancer Bernard Bunny Briggs married in 1982 18 19 She had a son Alvin Miller Mallard 1939 1943 20 and daughter born in 1949 6 Miller died in 2003 aged 89 years in North Las Vegas Nevada 21 Her papers are part of the Flournoy E Miller Papers at Emory University 22 References edit Olivette Miller Plays for Fisk University California Eagle 1948 06 10 p 11 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Flournoy Miller collection New York Public Library Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Retrieved 2021 02 10 Wintz Cary D Finkelman Paul 2004 Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance K Y Taylor amp Francis pp 792 798 ISBN 978 1 57958 458 0 Flournoy Miller s Daughter Harpist Olivette Gets Award Jet 101 November 11 1976 a b Oakley Annie 1950 07 22 The Theatre and its People The Windsor Star p 22 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com a b Wedman Les 1949 11 02 Her Ladder s Rungs are Sawed The Province p 13 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Big Harlem Show On Stage at State Wednesday Only Hartford Courant 1942 09 22 p 6 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Olivette Miller Jazz Harpist at Fisk University The New York Age 1948 06 05 p 6 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Chicago Lassies and Lads Invade the Motor City s Gay Night Life Detroit Tribune May 10 1941 p 9 Retrieved February 10 2021 via NewspaperArchive com The Latin Quarter advertisement The Cincinnati Enquirer 1947 10 12 p 62 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Elmwood advertisement The Windsor Star 1950 07 22 p 22 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com People Jet 30 June 8 1955 a b Harpist Olivette Miller Comic Bert Gibson on TV Jet 66 January 20 1955 Flip Michael Jackson named in 500 000 Suit Jet 54 December 14 1972 Rasmussen Jeannie 1974 11 22 Movie Features Black Comic Reno Gazette Journal p 51 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Show folks New black comedy features Amos Tr State Defender May 1 1976 p 8 via ProQuest New York Beat Jet 63 August 21 1952 Hinckley David 1990 08 14 Their Contributions Won t Be Lost in Shuffle Daily News p 469 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Bunny Briggs American tap dancer Philadelphia Tribune November 30 2014 p 10B via ProQuest Flournoy Miller s Grandson Passes The New York Age 1943 01 30 p 4 Retrieved 2021 02 10 via Newspapers com Olivette Miller in Social Security Death Index Flournoy E Miller papers 1924 1995 Series 2 Olivette Miller papers 1953 1995 Emory University Library finding aids Retrieved 2021 02 10 External links editOlivette Miller at IMDb Olivette Miller at the Internet Broadway Database A recording of Olivette Miller singing her own composition Look Up on YouTube Portal nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olivette Miller amp oldid 1177524354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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