Pearl Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990), known as Pearly Mae, was an African-American and Creek Indian Jazz vocalist and actress. Pearl was raised in Newport News, Virginia the daughter of a Pastor along two sisters and brother Bill Bailey, the first to perform the Moonwalk. She started pursuing a musical career to compete with him and at 15 years old, she won amateur competitions at the Pearl Theatre in Philadelphia and the Apollo in Harlem. She toured East Coast black clubs and with the United Service Organization in the 30s and 40s before making a 1946 Broadway debut on St. Louis Woman. Pearl received mainstream acclaim with the 1947 Paramount Comedy Variety Girl. She then took over the lead role in Hello, Dolly! which won her a Special Tony Award in 1968. Two of her songs, “Takes Two to Tango” and “I Need Ya Like I Need a Hole in the Head” popularized two idioms of similar phrasing. Between 1950 and 1971, she released at least 36 records. Bailey hosted the variety series The Pearl Bailey Show on ABC for one season in 1971.

Later in life, Bailey focused on off-stage ventures, voice acting in multiple films and receiving a theology (B.A.) Degree in 1985. She did return to Broadway in an All-Black Hello, Dolly production. Pearly Mae also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Muppet Show, As the World Turns, and The Love Boat, along with Duncan Hines commercial. She went on to pen 6 books and advocate for HIV/AIDS research.

Bailey maintained friendships in Hollywood and Washington: As a Republican fixture, was named the “Ambassador of Love” by President Richard Nixon in 1970 and Special Ambassador to the U.N. in 1975 by his successor Gerald Ford, who she would campaign for. She performed at the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala of Ronald Reagan, who would award her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Reagan also popularized the “It takes two to tango” idiom in an 1982 address.) She befriended drag queen Lynne Bailey, actress Joan Crawford, Ambassador and Democratic socialite Perle Mesta, and fellow USO performer Gypsy Rose Lee. Other accolades include the USO’s “Woman of the Year”, the Woman’s International Center Living Legacy Award, the Screen Actors Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and New York City’s Bronze Medallion. Pearly Mae is possibly the name sake of the Pearl Bailey High School from the animated show American Dad!

‘'I’m not a comedienne,’‘ she told an interviewer some years ago. ’‘I call myself a humorist. I tell stories to music and, thank God, in tune. I laugh at people who call me an actress.’'

Pearl Bailey was married to drummer Louie Bellson in 1952, and they had an adopted son, Tony, and biological daughter, Dee Dee. The couple holds the record for the 2nd most appearances in the White House. She died in Philadelphia in 1990 and is buried in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Pearl Bailey, imdB

Pearl Bailey Biography at Black History Now

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Black Heritage Commemorative Society

1918-1990 Pearl Mae Bailey was a Big Band Era singer and actress whose career encompassed appearances on Broadway and in film. Over a nearly 40-year span, Bailey produced hit singles, caused a sensation on stage and screen, and earned a Tony award and multiple appointments as the U.S.

http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/music/p/p_pearl_bailey.htm
Pearl Bailey, Encyclopedia.com