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Salome
Bey
Salome Bey pictured at the 1990 Women's Blues Revue. More recently she's been the subject of a CBC-TV documentary and a special tribute evening at Hugh's Room. She'll be making a long-overdue return appearance at this year's WBR and will be joined by Shakura S'Aida as well as Roxanne Potvin, Lee Aaron with more performers to be announced. The concert will take place at Massey Hall on Saturday, November 26th. Tickets are on sale now. Photo by Barry Thomson
The TBS Women's Blues Revue is always a fantastic opportunity to see established and new vocalists interpreting the Blues. Whether performing standards or originals, the artists chosen for this unique annual event never disappoint the audience, and 2005 will be no exception. This year's featured Blues Divas will include Roxanne Potvin, Shakura S'Aida, Lee Aaron, and Salome Bey.
Salome Bey is the first African Canadian to make an impact on me during my childhood in Goderich, Ontario. I remember seeing her perform powerful excerpts on CBC-TV from the Dora Mavor Moore Award winning play Indigo. I remember her as an emotive, sincere singer. Many years later, I met Bey after a phenomenal Toronto performance of her fantastic play Madame Gertrude. One of the things that struck me then was her commitment to young people. Today Bey continues her commitment to youth by involving them in her work. She continues to share the wonderful gifts of her creativity with Canadians and audiences worldwide.
Her recordings include Salome Bey (1970), Songs from Dude (1972), Jazz Canada Europe '79 (made during her tour of the Bracknell, Northsea and Montreux jazz festivals), Christmas Blue (1994), and I like Your Company (1997). Often performing with her gifted daughters Tuku and Saidah, Bey has also recorded with other artists including her brother Andy Bey, Orin Isaacs, Washington Savage, jazz pianist Horace Silver, the Montreal Jubilation Choir, among others.
A consummate performer, Bey has consistently transcended narrow descriptions of her creativity in music, theatre, television, or literature. Yet she continues today as a reigning monarch of the Blues in the fine tradition of Ma Rainey, Jodie Drake, Alberta Hunter and many more. "There's so many people that are the first lady of the Blues. I don't think I'm old enough yet. But even if I was 80 there are still so many ladies of the Blues that just to be included in that group is nice."
Bey demonstrated her gift for performance early by winning a talent contest at the Apollo, which
she entered without her parents consent at age 14. Her father however wasn't as excited about her
success as the young Bey prodigy and didn't allow her to receive her prize, a week of performance at the
famous Apollo Theatre. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Bey gave up law school several years later
to dedicate her life to performance and writing. She performed in local clubs with
Andy and the Bey Sisters, the vocal group she formed with her brother Andy and sister
Geraldine. They were popular, touring North America and Europe, even drawing attention from the legendary
Sam Cooke.
Upon arriving in Toronto in 1964, Bey quickly became a bright light in the local jazz circuit, making her theatre debut at the Global Village in Blue S. A. and Justine. In the early 70's Bey won the prestigious OBIE Award as Best Actress for her Earth Mother role in the New York version of Justine which was called Love Me, Love My Children. A favourite at Jazz festivals worldwide Bey continues to dazzle audiences on stage and screen. She has made numerous recordings and has been a frequent guest for many TV specials, countless concerts and festivals around the world. A Grammy Award nominee, Bey has won many awards over the years including the 1991 Toronto Arts Awards, but she continues to be motivated by the simplest inspirations. She is an artist inspired by the beauty, trials, and the struggles of life.
Bey is long overdue for a renaissance of interest in her music and her theatrical productions. Whether performing originals or standards in Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop or Blues music, Bey enriches our lives with the special interpretation that is her own.
- Marva Jackson Lord
Marva Jackson Lord lives in Wales, UK where she produces an annual Black Cultural event including music, storytelling, workshops and film and runs a nonprofit cooperative called Griots Productions creating links between urban and rural artists and communities (http://www.griots.net). She also works with a network of booking agents, web workers, writers and promoters establishing an artist admin service for UK/Europe (http://www.griotsarts.com)