Hazel Scott

Date of Birth: June 11, 1920

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: October 2, 1981

Biography

Hazel Dorothy Scott was a Trinidad-born American jazz and classical pianist, singer, and actress. Born on June 11, 1920, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Scott moved with her family to New York City at the young age of four. She was a child prodigy, receiving a scholarship to Juilliard School when she was only eight years old. Throughout her career, Scott became known for her virtuosic piano performances and her ability to seamlessly blend jazz and classical music. Scott was also a pioneer in the fight for civil rights. She used her platform to challenge racial discrimination and often refused to perform at segregated venues. In addition to her musical talents, Scott was a trailblazer in television, becoming the first African-American woman to host her own TV show, “The Hazel Scott Show,” in 1950. Despite facing blacklisting during the McCarthy era, Scott continued to perform and advocate for equality until her death on October 2, 1981, in New York City.

5 Interesting Facts about Hazel Scott

1. Hazel Scott was the first African-American woman to host her own TV show, “The Hazel Scott Show,” which aired in 1950.

2. She was a child prodigy and received a scholarship to the Juilliard School at the age of eight.

3. Scott was known for her ability to play two pianos simultaneously, one hand on each keyboard.

4. She was married to Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a significant figure in the civil rights movement.

5. Hazel Scott was an outspoken advocate against racial discrimination and refused to perform in segregated venues, even in the 1940s and 1950s.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hazel Scott

1. “I’ve always been a freedom fighter. Freedom of expression, freedom of choice, freedom to be oneself.”

2. “Why would anyone come to hear me, a Negro, and refuse to sit beside someone just like me?”

3. “I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in.”

4. “Jazz is a music that compels us to be ourselves.”

5. “I refuse to be put in any musical category.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Hazel Scott’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million, a significant amount for an African-American entertainer during her time.

Children

Hazel Scott had one child, Adam Clayton Powell III, who was born during her marriage to Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Adam Clayton Powell III has had a successful career in academia and media, serving as a professor and an executive at various institutions.