Bentley, Gladys, 1907-1960

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person

Name Entries *

Bentley, Gladys, 1907-1960

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Bentley

Forename :

Gladys

Date :

1907-1960

eng

Latn

authorizedForm

rda

Minton, Barbara, 1907-1960

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Minton

Forename :

Barbara

Date :

1907-1960

eng

Latn

alternativeForm

rda

Minton, Bobbie, 1907-1960

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Minton

Forename :

Bobbie

Date :

1907-1960

eng

Latn

alternativeForm

rda

Bentley, Gladys Alberta, 1907-1960

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Bentley

Forename :

Gladys Alberta

Date :

1907-1960

eng

Latn

alternativeForm

rda

Genders

Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1907-08-12

1907-08-12

Birth

1960-01-18

1960-01-18

Death

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Biographical History

Gladys Bentley (b. Aug. 12, 1907, Philadelphia, PA–d. Jan. 18, 1960, Los Angeles, CA) was a blues singer famous during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. She is known for her cross-dressing performences, often dressing in men's clothes, while she played piano and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep. After coming to New York City at age 16, Bentley, an open lesbian, made her name at the Clam House — Harlem’s most popular gay-friendly speakeasy.

In 1937, Bentley relocated to Los Angeles. She became a leading entertainer there and in the Bay Area. By 1958, she said she had completed an autobiography, “If This Be Sin,” but it was never published. She died from complications of the flu at age 52 while studying to become a minister.

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://viaf.org/viaf/1717396

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432715

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n95-049316

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n95049316

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Languages Used

Subjects

Nationalities

Americans

Activities

Occupations

Singers

Pianists

Legal Statuses

Places

Hollywood

CA, US

AssociatedPlace

Death

United States

00, US

AssociatedPlace

Philadelphia

PA, US

AssociatedPlace

Birth

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w65k0grw

65216031