Black History Month Profile: Pearl Bailey | News

WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- Pearl Mae Bailey enjoyed a long career on stage before earning a bachelor's degree in theology from Georgetown University in 1985.

Bailey, born in 1918 in Southhampton County, Virginia, appeared in Vaudeville and made her debut on Broadway in 1946.

She won a Tony for the all black production of "Hello Dolly."

Bailey performed with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Dandridge and Mahalia Jackson.

Later in her career she was the spokeswoman for Duncan Hines.

Pearl Bailey passed away in 1990.