Barbara McNair | |
|---|---|
 McNair, 1967 | |
| Born | Barbara Jean McNair March 4, 1934 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 4, 2007 (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | UCLA (attended) American Conservatory of Music |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1956–2007 |
| Spouses | Earl Wright
(m. 1953; div. 1955)Jack Rafferty
(m. 1963; div. 1971)Rick Manzie
(m. 1972; died 1976)Ben Strahan
(m. 1979; div. 1986)Charles Blecka (m. 2006) |
| Relatives | Curtis Knight (cousin) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Website | barbaramcnair |
Barbara Jean McNair[1][2][3][4][5] (March 4, 1934 – February 4, 2007) was an American singer and theater, television, and film actress. McNair's career spanned over five decades in television, film, and stage. McNair's professional career began in music during the late 1950s, singing in the nightclub circuit. In 1958, McNair released "Till There Was You", her debut single for Coral Records, which was a commercial success.[6] McNair performed all around the world, touring with Nat King Cole and later appearing in his Broadway stage shows I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole in the early 1960s.[7]
By the 1970s, McNair had switched to acting in films and television; she played Sidney Poitier's character’s wife in They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel The Organization (1971). In her later years, McNair returned to performing in nightclubs and on cruise ships. She died of throat cancer on February 4, 2007, at the age of 72.
- ^ Burrows, Frances Beard (1996). Keith family of South Carolina. South Carolina: F B Publications. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ McCann, Bob (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9780786437900.
- ^ The Golden Age of American Musical Theatre: 1943-1965, By Corinne J. Naden.Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ Betts, Graham (2014). "Barbara McNair". Motown Encyclopedia. AC. ISBN 9781311441546. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Scott (August 22, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3d ed.). McFarland. p. 504. ISBN 9780786479924. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Cute Wisconsin Thrush Big Hit in Europe, South America". Jet. XVI (19): 60–61. September 3, 1959. Retrieved January 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ Ruuth, Marianne (December 2, 1992). Nat King Cole. Holloway House Publishing. ISBN 9780870675935. Retrieved December 2, 2017 – via Google Books.