Gladys Bentley

Gladys Alberta Bentley (August 12, 1907 – January 18, 1960) was an American blues singer, pianist, and entertainer who became a prominent figure during the Harlem Renaissance. She was widely recognized for having a strong contralto voice, spirited stage presence, and a riveting performance style. She is remembered for breaking barriers in jazz, blues, and gender roles. Bentley got her start after being signed to Okeh Records and eventually her name became synonymous with Harry Hansberry's Clam House, a well-known gay speakeasy in New York City in the 1920s. She headlined in Harlem's Ubangi Club as a black lesbian and cross-dressing performer, often being backed by drag queens in her performances. Bentley was typically dressed in men's clothes which included a signature tail coat and top hat and was known to be a spirited piano player and for singing risqué renditions to popular songs of the time in her deep and powerful voice. With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, she eventually relocated to southern California in the late 1930s where she was billed "America's Greatest Sepia Piano Player" and the "Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs". Bentley continued to perform, tour, and record music well into the 1950s.