Della Reese
AN ANGEL WITH WINGS DIPPED IN DETROIT GOSPEL AND JAZZ

AN ANGEL WITH WINGS DIPPED IN DETROIT GOSPEL AND JAZZ

By: Dee Dee McNeil

Dellorees Patricia Early Grew Up On Vernor Highway Down The Street From A Soap Factory

On July 6th, Della Reese celebrated her 70th birthday. Another bright star, born and raised in Detroit , Dellorees Patricia Early grew up on the East Side of town. Her family lived on Vernor Highway in an apartment building down the street from the Ed Sol Soap Factory. At the age of six, Dellorees was already lifting her voice to sing as soloist with the Olivet Baptist Church choir. When the non denomina- tional congregation called, Church of Our Faith, opened their doors a block from the Early house, the inquisitive teen was intrigued and down-right nosey. Back in those days, non-denominational churches were rare. Upon her very first visit, Dellorees was impressed with the minister's sermon. He encouraged people to find the God within. This was something the teenager already believed. Then, when the choir director heard the young teen's voice echoing over the congregational singing, she was approached after services. Dellorees was encouraged to join them. Not only did she join the choir, she joined their church. That's how it happened that Mahalia Jackson first heard the 13-year-old lyric soprano.

At Thirteen-Years-Old She Toured Nationally With The Queen Of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson was touring and performing at a number of churches across the country. One of them was Church of Our Faith . During that fateful appearance, the lyric soprano in her backup group fainted. The singer was pregnant and her husband insisted his wife return home. The pastor suggested that Mahalia might want to consider thirteen year old Dellorees Patricia Early as a replacement. They went home with Dellorees that Sunday in hopes of persuading her family to let the child go on tour with Mahalia. Dellorees' mother was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian who believed in the power of prayer. After spiritual deliberation, she consented. So in 1945, young Dellorees began a legendary tour with the Queen of Gospel. This lasted five consecutive summers. It helped the youngster's poor family financially, but also gave the promising young singer some of the best preparation she could have received for touring and performing. The extra money also provided Dellorees with a new school wardrobe. No more cardboard in her school shoes to cover the holes in the soles. Dellorees bought new shoes and walked proud!

In her autobiography, Della Reese gave her gratitude to Mahalia Jackson .

“What she taught, mostly by example, was not only about singing gospel music but about pop, jazz, blues, Broadway, classical, you name it. It's about filling yourself with the spirit of whatever you're singing about, or really going to that place and letting listeners go with you. ... Not showing off vocal gymnastics, but singing from the inside, not from the outside.”

Sudden Death Of Her Mother Caused Dellorees To Drop Out Of Wayne State University

Dellorees had her sights set on being a Psychology Major when she entered Wayne State University . Unexpectedly, her college dreams were crushed by the weight of family responsibilities. When her mother died, the hopeful collegian dropped out of school. Suddenly on her own and struggling, Dellorees began singing in nightclubs, performing Jazz Standards with a power that stunned the crowds. Her first repertoire included three songs: “April In Paris”, “With These hands” and “All Of Me”. But these three songs were enough to build a strong following of fans who came to hear her sing. While working at a small club in Blackbottom, the owner complained her name was too long to fit on his marquis. At this point in her career, Dellorees Patricia Early let the club owner shorten her first name into two pieces. That's how she became Della Reese. Not long after, Della was a headliner at the very prestigious Flame Show bar. There she rubbed shoulders with a host of headliners who encouraged her and helped develop her talent. Artists like Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae and Nat King Cole took her under their wings.

“What I learned most from these artists wasn't how to do what they did, but how to do what I did. ... Now a-days if you tell an up-and-comer they sound like Whitney Houston or Madonna they feel good about it. But back when I was coming up, if anyone had said I sounded like someone else, I would've cried! If I had mocked Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald, people in audiences would shout out, That's Billie's song! or Leave Ella's stuff alone!”

Her First Million Selling Record Was “And That Reminds Me”

When A New York Agent heard some local records she had made in Detroit , he promptly signed the blossoming talent. Della joined the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra in 1953. A year later she recorded for Jubilee and in 1957 had a million-seller called “And That Reminds Me”. Ed Sullivan loved her rendition of this song so much, he had her on his popular television variety show sixteen times to sing it. When she switched to RCA Victor, Della Reese did it again. In 1959, she had her biggest hit yet with “Don't You Know?” a song adapted from Puccini's La Boheme.

Della Made Childhood Dreams Grown-Up Realities

Many a day, Della and her mom had munched popcorn sitting in the dark auditorium of a local Detroit movie theater. All the motion pictures that Della and her mom watched tickled a nerve in the young woman. Deep in dreams, Della began to visualize herself on stage and screen. It was not long before her dreams became reality. She appeared in the Eddie Murphy films “Harlem Nights” and “The Distinguished Gentlemen.” But before this, in 1969 she made television history when she became the first woman, let alone African-American woman, to guest-host The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson . Later that year, she became the first black woman to host her own variety show. The syndicated “Della” ran until 1970 and paved the way for females to enter the television hostess spot. These accomplishments ushered in a slew of appearance on a long list of nationally syndicated television shows including, The Mod Squad, Sanford and Son , Chico and the Man , L.A. Law , Picket Fences , the Redd Foxx sitcom, the Royal Family and of course her current hit television series, “ Touched By An Angel ”. How appropriate that Della Reese should be cast as an Angel in this inspirational television series. Because Della has always put God first in her life and music. She started by praising God with her voice and she has never stopped.

She Continues To Touch People Like An Angel

In the 1960's it was unheard of to perform Gospel Music as part of a featured Las Vegas floorshow. Della was certain it would work, but both church and booking agents disagreed. She proved them both wrong, running a successful Gospel-rooted show called “Portrait of Della Reese” to standing room only crowds. Although not recognized for being the first person to bring Gospel Music to the mainstream, Della was certainly responsible for this breakthrough. She is currently minister of a church called “ Understanding Principles for Better Living” in Los Angeles and continues to sing and teach the Gospel. Along with her starring role in the television series, Della sings the weekly Touched by An Angel theme song . We welcome home our dynamic angel in celebration of Detroit 's 300th birthday on July 20th, from 7pm to 10pm at Hart Plaza . The MGM Grand Detroit Casino will present Jazz Detroit : Swing, Bop & Beyond , featuring an all star Detroit Jazz Ensemble and Ms. Della Reese as part of the Sounds of Detroit concert.

Note: This article appeared in the Michigan Chronicle July 25 - 31, 2001

 
 Top of page