Waters, Ethel. (1896–1977) [Lucioni, Luigi. (1900–1988)]
Printed Christmas card, probably to Luigi Lucioni
Printed Christmas card, created by (or for?) the great American jazz and blues singer and actress on a typewriter and probably sent to the Italian-American painter. Bifolium. Unsigned, undated. Oblong format, 4 x 6 inches (10 x 12.5 cm). In fine condition.Lucioni painted a portrait of Waters in 1939 that some have called "historic." Certainly, Waters was a historic figure. She was was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award (for the song "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," performed in the 1943 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical Cabin in the Sky), the first African American to star on her own television show (in 1939), and the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award (for "Goodnight Sweet Blues," performed in the 1962 series Route 66). (22330)
Ephemera Jazz