The American dancer, singer, and actress Josephine Baker (Freda Josephine McDonald) was born on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri; she died on April 12, 1975, in Paris. April 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of her death.
Josephine Baker grew up in poverty. Her career began at the age of 16 at the Standard Theatre in Philadelphia. In New York, she was engaged in a vaudeville troupe, with which she toured the USA. From 1922 to 1924, she was a chorus girl in New York before being hired for “La Revue Nègre,” which premiered in Paris on October 2, 1925, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. With her dancing, she captured the Parisian audience by storm, who were seeing the Charleston for the first time. The “Revue Nègre” also performed in Brussels and Berlin. In 1926 and 1927, Josephine Baker was the star of the Folies Bergère and also played several leading roles
Josephine Baker grew up in poverty. Her career began at the age of 16 at the Standard Theatre in Philadelphia. In New York, she was engaged in a vaudeville troupe, with which she toured the USA. From 1922 to 1924, she was a chorus girl in New York before being hired for “La Revue Nègre,” which premiered in Paris on October 2, 1925, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. With her dancing, she captured the Parisian audience by storm, who were seeing the Charleston for the first time. The “Revue Nègre” also performed in Brussels and Berlin. In 1926 and 1927, Josephine Baker was the star of the Folies Bergère and also played several leading roles
USA 16.7.2008
Frankreich 17.9.1994
in films until the 1930s. Because of her costumes and nude dances, she was banned from performing in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, and Munich, which made her all the more interesting to audiences. While she suffered racism in the USA and failed with a Ziegfeld Follies show in 1936, she became the most successful American artist in France.
During World War II, Josephine Baker worked for the French Red Cross, the French Resistance, and the secret service, and in 1944 became a propaganda officer in the Free French Air Force. For her services, she received the Croix de Guerre in 1957 and was simultaneously inducted into the Legion of Honor. As early as the 1950s, Baker supported the US civil rights movement and, on August 28, 1963, was the only female speaker at the March on Washington organized by Martin Luther King Jr.
During World War II, Josephine Baker worked for the French Red Cross, the French Resistance, and the secret service, and in 1944 became a propaganda officer in the Free French Air Force. For her services, she received the Croix de Guerre in 1957 and was simultaneously inducted into the Legion of Honor. As early as the 1950s, Baker supported the US civil rights movement and, on August 28, 1963, was the only female speaker at the March on Washington organized by Martin Luther King Jr.
The video shows a live TV appearance of the singer at the German Schlager Festival in 1966.