Della Reese

Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. Reese's long career began as a singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You Know?". In the late–1960s, Reese hosted her own talk show, Della, which ran for 197 episodes.[1][2] She also starred in films beginning in 1975, including playing opposite Redd Foxx in Harlem Nights (1989), Martin Lawrence in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996) and Elliott Gould in Expecting Mary (2010). She achieved continuing success in the religious television drama Touched by an Angel (1994–2003), in which Reese played the leading role of Tess.
== Early years ==
Della Reese was born Delloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931, in the historic Black Bottom neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan, to Richard Thaddeus Early, an African American steelworker, and Nellie (Mitchelle), a Native American cook of the Cherokee tribe.[3][4][5] Her mother had had several children before Reese's birth, none of whom lived with her; hence, Reese grew up as an only child. At six years old, Reese began singing in church. From this experience, she became an avid gospel singer. On weekends in the 1940s, she and her mother would go to the movies independently to watch the likes of Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Lena Horne portray glamorous lives on screen. Afterwards, Reese would act out the scenes from the films. In 1944, she began her career directing the young people's choir, after she had nurtured acting plus her obvious musical talent. She was often chosen, on radio, as a regular singer. At the age of 13, she was hired to sing with Mahalia Jackson's gospel group. Delloreese entered Detroit's Cass Technical High School (where she attended the same year as Edna Rae Gillooly, later known as Ellen Burstyn). She also continued with her touring with Jackson. With higher grades, she was the first in her family to graduate from high school in 1947, at 15.
Afterwards, she formed her own gospel group, the Meditation Singers. However, due in part to the death of her mother and her father's serious illness, Reese had to interrupt her schooling at Wayne State University to help support her family. Faithful to the memory of her mother, Delloreese moved out of her father's house when she disapproved of him taking up with a new girlfriend. She then took on odd jobs, such as truck driver, dental receptionist, and elevator operator, after 1949. Performing in clubs, Early soon decided to shorten her name from "Delloreese Early" to "Della Reese".
== Musical career ==
Reese was discovered by the gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, and her big break came when she won a contest, which gave her a week to sing at Detroit's well-known Flame Show Bar. Reese remained there for eight weeks. Although her roots were in gospel music, she now was being exposed to and influenced by such jazz artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. In 1953, she signed a recording contract with Jubilee Records, for which she recorded six albums. Later that year, she also joined the Hawkins Orchestra. Her first recordings for Jubilee were songs such as "In the Still of the Night" (originally published in 1937), "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" and "Time After Time" (1947). The songs were later included on the album And That Reminds Me(1959).
In 1957, Reese released a single called "And That Reminds Me". After years of performing, she gained chart success with this song. It became a Top Twenty pop hit and a million-seller record. That year, Reese was voted by Billboard, Cashbox and various other magazines, as "The Most Promising Singer". In 1959, Reese moved to RCA Records and released her first RCA single, called "Don't You Know?," which was adapted from Giacomo Puccini's music for La bohème,specifically, the aria "Quando m'en vo'" (Musetta's Waltz). It became her biggest hit to date, reaching the number 2 spot on the pop charts and topping the R&Bcharts (then called the "Hot R&B Sides") that year. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA.[6] Eventually, the song came to be widely considered the signature song of her early career. She then released a successful follow-up single called "Not One Minute More" (number 16). She remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with "And Now" (number 69). In 1960 she released "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" (number 56) which was drawn from her Grammy-nominated album Della. The album rose in the pop album charts to number 35.
In November 1960, Reese appeared in advertisements in Ebony magazine for the newly launched AMI Continental jukebox. Reese recorded regularly throughout the 1960s, releasing singles and several albums. Two of the most significant were The Classic Della (1962) and Waltz with Me, Della (1963), which broadened her fan base internationally. She recorded several jazz-focused albums, including Della Reese Live (1966), On Strings of Blue (1967) and One of a Kind (1978). She also performed in Las Vegas for nine years and toured across the country. Reese continued to record albums in the following decades, receiving two more Grammy nominations in the gospel category for the album Della Reese and Brilliance (1991) and for the live recorded album, My Soul Feels Better Right Now (1999).[7] Motown singer Martha Reeves cites Reese as a major influence and says she named her group The Vandellas after Van Dyke Street in Detroit and Della Reese. In 2017 she was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
== Television and film career ==
In 1969, Reese began a transition into acting work which would eventually lead to her highest profile. Her first attempt at television stardom was a talk show series, Della, which was cancelled after 197 episodes (June 9, 1969 – March 13, 1970).[8] In 1970, Reese became the first black woman to guest host The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She appeared in several TV movies and miniseries, was a regular on Chico and the Man and played the mother of B. A. Baracus in The A-Team episode "Lease with an Option to Die". In 1991, she starred opposite her old friend Redd Foxx in his final sitcom, The Royal Family,but his death halted production of the series for several months. Reese also did voice-over for the late 1980s Hanna-Barbera animated series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo on ABC. In 1989, she starred alongside Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryorand Redd Foxx in the film Harlem Nights, in which she performed a fight scene with Eddie Murphy. Reese appeared as a panelist on several episodes of the television game show Match Game, and Latrice Royale impersonated Reese on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4 in the "Snatch Game of Love", a Match Game and The Dating Game parody.
=== Television guest appearances ===
Reese has had a wide variety of guest-starring roles, beginning with an episode of The Mod Squad. This led to other roles in such series as: The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Getting Together, Police Woman, Petrocelli, Joe Forrester, Police Story, The Rookies, McCloud, Sanford and Son with old friend Redd Foxx, Vega$,Insight and two episodes of The Love Boat. She also had a recurring role on It Takes Two opposite Richard Crenna and Patty Duke, three episodes of Crazy Like a Fox, four episodes of Charlie & Co. opposite Flip Wilson, 227 with best friend Marla Gibbs, MacGyver, Night Court, Dream On, Designing Women, Picket Fences, Disney Channel's That's So Raven and The Young and the Restless.
=== Touched by an Angel ===
After coping with the death of one of her best friends, Redd Foxx, in 1991, she was reluctant to play an older female lead in the inspirational television drama Touched by an Angel, but went ahead and auditioned for the role of Tess. She wanted to have a one-shot agreement between CBS and producer Martha Williamson, but the network ordered more episodes. Reese was widely seen as a key component of the show's success. Already starring on Touched by an Angel was the lesser-known Irish actress Roma Downey, who played the role of case worker Tess's angel/employee, Monica. In numerous interviews, there was an on- and off-screen chemistry between both Reese and Downey. The character of Tess was the angelic supervisor who sent the other angels out on missions to help people redeem their lives and show them God's love, while at the same time, she was sassy and had a no-nonsense attitude. The show often featured a climactic monologue delivered by the angel Monica in which she reveals herself as an angel to a human with the words: "I am an angel sent by God to tell you that He loves you." The character of Tess was portrayed by Reese as down-to-earth, experienced and direct. Reese also sang the show's theme song, "Walk with You", and was featured prominently on the soundtrack album produced in conjunction with the show.
During its first season in 1994, many critics were skeptical about the show, it being the second overtly religious prime-time fantasy series, after Highway to Heaven. The show had a rocky start, low ratings and was cancelled 11 episodes into the first season. However, with the help of a massive letter-writing campaign, the show was resuscitated the following season and became a huge ratings winner for the next seven seasons. At the beginning of the fourth season in 1997, Reese threatened to leave the show because she was making less than her co-stars; CBS ended up raising her salary. In 2000, her health problems became obvious when she collapsed on the set and was hospitalized.[9]Touched by an Angel was cancelled in 2003, but it continued re-running heavily in syndication and on Ion Television (formerly PAX-TV), The Hallmark Channel, Up, and later MeTV. Roma Downey said of her on- and off-screen relationship with Reese:
Downey later also said:
== Personal life ==
In 2015, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Reese.[10] Della Reese was the godmother of Roma Downey's daughter Reilly Marie. Reese officiated at[11] the marriage ceremony of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett in the absence of Downey's late mother.
=== Family ===
Reese's mother, Nellie Mitchelle Early, died in 1949 of an intracerebral hemorrhage. Reese's father, Richard Early, died ten years later. Reese had an adoptive daughter whom she acquired from a family member unable to care for her, named Delorese Daniels Owens, in 1961. Owens died on March 14, 2002. She died from complications stemming from pituitary disease. Reese said of the experience, sharing her frustration with the lack of awareness and knowledge of pituitary disorders:
=== Marriages ===
In 1952, Reese married factory worker Vermont Adolphus Bon Taliaferro, nineteen years her senior,[13] and adopted the stage name Pat Ferro[14] for a week, before introducing the stage name she used for the rest of her life—though sources differ as to whether this was after the failure of the marriage,[13]or simply a show-business decision.[15] A second marriage ceremony, on December 28, 1959, to accountant Leroy Basil Gray, who had two children by a previous marriage, was kept secret for some time.[16] This marriage either ended in divorce[17] or was annulled on the basis that Gray's previous divorce was invalid.[13] Reese appears to have been briefly married to Mercer Ellington(who was then her manager) in 1961, before this was annulled later that year due to Ellington's Mexican divorce being ruled invalid.[13] In 1983, she married Franklin Thomas Lett, Jr., a concert producer and writer.[citation needed]
=== Health ===
In 1979, after taping a guest spot for The Tonight Show, she suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm, but made a full recovery after two surgeries by neurosurgeon Charles Drake at University Hospital in London, Ontario.[18] In 2016, shortly after her 85th birthday, Reese was said to be in poor health, and had undergone multiple surgeries. She further disclosed that she had neglected her health for years, which had contributed to her developing diabetes.[19] After her last appearance on Signed, Sealed, Delivered, she retired from acting. While Reese sometimes used a wheelchair, she avoided using one often, because it would make her condition worse.[20]
=== Ministry ===
In the 1980s, Reese was ordained a minister through the Christian New Thought branch known as Unity after serving as the senior minister and founder of her own church, Understanding Principles for Better Living.[21] The "Up Church" is under Universal Foundation for Better Living, a denomination of Christian New Thought founded by Rev. Johnnie Colemon, a close friend of Rev. Reese-Lett.[22]In her ministerial work, she was known as the Rev. Dr. Della Reese Lett.[23]
=== Death ===
Reese died on November 19, 2017, at her Los Angeles, California, home at the age of 86. No cause was given, although she had suffered from Type 2-diabetes.[24][25]
== Discography ==
Main article: Della Reese discography
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1975	Psychic Killer 	Mrs. Gibson 	[26]
1989	Harlem Nights 	Vera Walker 	[26]
1996	A Thin Line Between Love and Hate	Ma Wright 	[26]
2000	Dinosaur 	Eema (voice)	[26]
2005	Beauty Shop 	Mrs. Towner 	[26]
2007	If I Had Known I Was a Genius 	Nana 	[26]
2010	Expecting Mary 	Doris Dorkus	[27]
2012	Meant to Be 	Mave 	[28]
2012	Me Again 	Muriel 	[29]
2012	Christmas Angel 	Elsa Way 	[26]
=== Television filmsEdit ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1973	Voyage of the Yes 	Opal Parker 	[26]
1973	Daddy's Girl 	Diane 	[26]
1974	Twice in a Lifetime 	Flo 	[26]
1975	Cop on the Beat 	Claudine 	[30]
1976	Flo's Place 	Flo 	[26]
1976	Nightmare in Badham County 	Sarah 	[26]
1990	The Kid Who Loved Christmas 	Alicia Slater 	[26]
1992	You Must Remember This 	Ella DuChamps 	Voice[26]
1997	A Match Made in Heaven 	Katie Beale 	[26]
1997	Miracle in the Woods 	Lilly Cooper 	[26]
1998	Emma's Wish 	Mona Washburn 	[26]
1998	Mama Flora's Family 	Nana Fleming 	[26]
1999	The Secret Path 	Honey 	[26]
1999	Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years	Martha Logan 	[26]
1999	Anya's Bell 	Anya Herpick 	[26]
2000	The Moving of Sophia Myles 	Sophia Myles 	[26]
2011	Hallelujah 	Dulcie Prejean 	[31]
2012	Christmas Angel 	Elsie Waybright	[26]
2013	Dear Secret Santa 	Linda 	[32]
2013	Miracle at Gate 213 	Alma Peddington	[33]
=== Television series ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes 	Reference
1968 	The Mod Squad 	Paula 	Episode: "Find Tara Chapman!" 	[34]
1970 	The Bold Ones: The New Doctors 	Grace Dayton 	Episode: "Killer on the Loose" 	[35]
1974 	Police Woman 	Tina Thompson 	Episode: "Requiem for Bored Wives" 	[35]
1974–1976	McCloud 	Police Sgt. Gladys Harris	2 episodes 	[35]
1975 	Petrocelli 	Angela Damon 	Episode: "Once Upon a Victim" 	[36]
1975 	The Rookies 	Landers 	Episode: "Ladies Day" 	[35]
1975 	Sanford and Son 	Herself 	Episode: "Della, Della, Della" 	[34]
1975–1978	Chico and the Man 	Della Rogers 	27 episodes 	[35]
1976 	Medical Center 	Capt. Sykes 	Episode: "Major Annie, MD" 	[36]
1979 	Welcome Back, Kotter 	Mrs. Tremaine 	Episodes: "Come Back, Little Arnold", "The Gang Show"	[36]
1980 	Insight 	Judge Roberta Lynn 	Episode: "God in the Dock" 	[37]
1982 	The Love Boat 	Millie Washington 	2 episodes 	[36]
1982–1983	It Takes Two 	Judge Caroline Phillips 	5 episodes 	[36]
1985 	The A-Team 	Mrs. Baracus 	Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die" 	[36]
1985–1986	Crazy Like a Fox 	Nurse Flood 	3 episodes 	[36]
1986 	Charlie & Co. 	Aunt Rachel 	4 episodes 	[34]
1986 	ABC Afterschool Special 	Aunt Faith 	Episode: "The Gift of Amazing Grace" 	[36]
1987–1990	227 	Grace / Rita Clark 	2 episodes 	[36]
1989 	Night Court 	Aunt Ruth 	Episode: "Auntie Maim" 	[36]
1990 	The Young Riders 	Stagecoach Sally 	Episode: "Born to Hang" 	[36]
1990–1991	MacGyver 	Mama Colton 	2 episodes 	[36]
1991 	Married People 	Annette 	Episode: "Dance Ten, Friends Zero" 	[36]
1991–1992	The Royal Family 	Victoria Royal 	15 episodes 	[35]
1992 	Dream On 	Receptionist 	Episode: "No Deposit, No Return" 	[36]
1993 	Designing Women 	Mrs. Toussant 	Episode: "Wedding Redux" 	[36]
1993 	L.A. Law 	Lucille Lake 	Episode: "Vindaloo in the Villows" 	[36]
1993 	Picket Fences 	Naomi Grand 	Episode: "The Lullaby League" 	[34]
1994–2003	Touched by an Angel 	Tess 	211 episodes
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (1998–2002)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1997–98)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series(1997–98)	[35]
1996–1998	Promised Land 	Tess 	6 episodes 	[36]
1997 	Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child	The Blues Fairy (voice) 	Episode: "Pinocchio" 	[36]
2006 	That's So Raven 	Miss Rhonnie Wilcox 	Episode: "The Four Aces" 	[38]
2009 	The Young and the Restless 	Aunt Virginia 	2 episodes 	[38]
2010 	Detroit 1-8-7 	Lorraine Henderson 	Episode: "Shelter" 	[39]
2014 	Signed, Sealed, Delivered 	Cora Brandt 	2 episodes 	[40]
== Awards and nominations ==
; Awards
* 1994: Hollywood Walk of Fame: 7060 Hollywood Boulevard—Television[41]
* 1996: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 1997: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 1998: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 1999: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 2000: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 2001: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
* 2002: Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[42]
; Nominations
* 1960: Grammy Award—Don't You Know[43]
* 1961: Grammy Award—Della (Album)[44]
* 1997: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[45]
* 1997: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[46]
* 1997: Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Made for TV Series—Touched by an Angel[47]
* 1998: Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[45]
* 1998: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series—Touched by an Angel[48]
* 1999: Grammy Award—My Soul Feels Better Right Now[43]
* 2000: Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting By a Female Performer in an Animated Feature—Dinosaur[49]
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