Joyce Bryant, “The Bronze Bombshell” of Nightclubs and Records, Has Died

[sansradio]

My capsule obit from IG:

The Last of the 1950s Black Bombshells: Joyce Bryant, the slinky chanteuse whose otherworldly beauty, multioctave vocals and silver hair briefly set the hit parade and nightclub scene ablaze, has passed away at 95, according to her niece Robyn LaBeaud [@joycebryantofficial]. Her cabaret career was one to rival Dandridge’s, Horne’s, Bailey’s or Kitt’s — shamefully, she made no Hollywood inroads as they did—but she gave it all up for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and to become a highly sought-out vocal coach and opera singer. Her recordings remain out of print, and she is criminally unremembered, but we speak her name. Rest in silver.

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[reese]

We have lost so many greats this year. I haven't seen her since she was profiled on the PBS series BROWN SUGAR back in the 80s. May she R.I.P.

[sansradio]

We have lost so many greats this year. I haven't seen her since she was profiled on the PBS series BROWN SUGAR back in the 80s. May she R.I.P.

Yes, indeed. She'd been suffering from dementia and blindness for some time, but her niece Robyn did a wonderful job of caring for her; she even posted some lovely videos of her at home recently where, although she was infirmed, she was still quite vivacious. The definition of "unsung."

[Motown Eddie]

So sorry to hear about Joyce Bryant. Rest In Peace & Power "Bronze Bombshell".

[PeaceNHarmony]

I recall seeing Joyce on, I believe, the Mike Douglas show and her discussion of her famous silver hair -

[sansradio]

I recall seeing Joyce on, I believe, the Mike Douglas show and her discussion of her famous silver hair -

Yep! Josephine Baker was on the same bill. Joyce needed a quick gimmick to stand out, so she found a can of radiator paint and doused her hair with it. When La Baker laid eyes on Joyce, she either said or gestured, "Touché."

[Guy]

I have been fascinated by Joyce Bryant since seeing her in the PBS documentary based on Donald Bogle's "Brown Sugar." There was a guy working on a documentary about her and he toured with it and gave screenings. I hope it sees the light of day, she was a huge cabaret star in the 1950s and then completely forgotten. Rest in power, Queen.


https://www.joycebryant.net/ [[https://www.joycebryant.net/)

[Guy]

I think Joyce only recorded one full-length EP. Though she has another single "Shoulder To Weep On."

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nBKYeEXDmQ

[sansradio]

Ebony is the only online obit published so far. Get with it, news sites.

https://www.ebony.com/acclaimed-singer-joyce-bryant-passes-away-at-95/

[sansradio]

I think Joyce only recorded one full-length EP. Though she has another single "Shoulder To Weep On."

You're right about the EP, Guy. I have found 4 singles, on one of which "A Shoulder to Weep On" was a b-side to one of her most controversial releases--"Love for Sale," said to be so suggestive that it was banned in Boston.

[sansradio]

And, at long last, a beautifully written, long-overdue NYT obit with gorgeous pix:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/arts/music/joyce-bryant-dead.html

[kenneth]

I never even heard of this lady! I will have to seek out some of her music.

[sansradio]

I never even heard of this lady! I will have to seek out some of her music.

Her work is out of print and exceedingly hard to find, but Guy posted her EP above as well as a wonderful link with info and pix.