The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Della Reese

Biographical Note

Della Reese's name is synonymous with entertainment and excellence. Starting her career in entertainment as a singer, she developed her own style with romantic ballads and other songs that utilized her unique blend of jazz, blues and gospel and phrasing that to this day makes for a sound that is unmistakably Della Reese. Surrounded by a quartet or a philharmonic orchestra, Reese's qualities as a stylist are unmistakable.

Reese, who was born Deloreese Patricia Early in Detroit, Michigan, began singing in church when she was six years old. Throughout her formative years, Reese sang gospel music, and at age thirteen, Della was hired by the late Mahalia Jackson to sing with her group.

Later, while majoring in psychology at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Reese formed her own female gospel group, "The Meditation Singers," which is listed in the "Who's Who of Gospel Music." However, the passing of her mother and her father's serious illness caused her to interrupt her schooling, so that she could work to help support her family. During this time she worked myriad jobs, including as a secretary, cutting hair and driving a truck and a taxi. Her big break came when she won a contest that gave her a week singing at Detroit's famed "Flame Showbar." That week soon became eight weeks. This experience and others exposed Della to the talents and styles of such music greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Al Hibbler, Billy Eckstine and others. Reese, in turn, developed her own individual style, spring-boarding her in record time to national prominence. In 1953, she moved to New York City and became a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra, and shortly thereafter, signed a recording contract with Jubilee Records. Her first records included "In the Still of the Night," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and "Time After Time." Reese soon had her first major hit with "And That Reminds Me (of you)." That same year, she was voted "The Most Promising Singer" by Billboard, Cashbox, and Variety, as well as the Disc Jockeys of America and the Jukebox Operators Association.

Della signed a new recording contract in 1959, with RCA, and subsequently enjoyed her biggest hit, a tune adapted from Puccini's "La Boheme," entitled "Don't You Know". Acknowledgement from the music industry followed as she was nominated for a Grammy Award as best female vocalist. This led to Reese performing for the next nine years in Las Vegas. In the thirty years that followed "Don't You Know" Della Reese has continued recording. In the late 50's and early 60's, she also launched a successful television career. Reese appeared on many television shows that are now considered classics, including "The Perry Como Show," "The Jackie Gleason Show," as well as more than twenty appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Reese was also the first female to host "The Tonight Show." Soon thereafter, she was asked to host her own television talk show, "Della," making her the first black woman to host her own show. "Della" was syndicated nationally by RKO in 1969 and 1970. Reese then became a regular guest star on various television series, and soon received her own series, "The Della Show." Her success has continued over the years, with numerous appearances on television and in movies. In 1994, Reese was tapped to star in the hit series "Touched by an Angel." This program was very popular with viewers and ran for ten seasons, introducing Reese to a whole new generation of viewers. Reese was honored for her talents in 1994, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In addition to her singing and acting, Reese has led a deeply spiritual life. In 1986, she was ordained as a minister by the Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon, and today she gives weekly sermons at her church, Understanding Principles For Better Living, in Los Angeles.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Della Reese was conducted by Lorraine Toussaint on 2004-09-03 in Los Angeles, California and is recorded on 1 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Della Reese's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.

Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.

Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Della Reese, September 03, 2004. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Detailed Description/Tape Listings