Eartha Kitt

Portrait (c) Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. All Rights Reserved.

I first heard Eartha Kitt sing "Monotonous" on the cast album of "New Faces of 1952." Years later, on August 10th, 2005 she visited my studio for a portrait. We had tea in the kitchen and discussed Vietnam, LBJ, her efforts to stop that war and how her career suffered as a result. RIP.

Comments

[Angelmig1]

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Eartha Kitt in Boston and befriend her for a little time. It will always be one of the highlights of my life. A consummate artist, courageous woman, and a loving human being who taught me to live life on my own terms, cease life’s immense richness and accept everyone’s imperfect but beautiful humanity. Thank you Eartha! I know they are thrilled to have you with them now, I can picture them all smiling…

[AnalyzeIT]

Icon!

A lovely lady, may she rest in peace - and raise a little ruckus now and again if and when she feels the need. ;)

She will certainly live on through many of us........­......

[provgrays]

What a beautiful portrait.

There is so much life, humanity, sensuality, sadness, triumph, resilience and pain in that face,

[FogBelter]

I'm glad the passing of Eartha Kitt is getting the attention it deserves. She was an icon in many ways.

[boing007]

Her version of 'Let's do it, let's fall in love' is a classic.

[kimleehan]

I saw her doing a interview once were she talked about her chidhood and how bad she had it. She said that the other children used to make fun of her yellow color, she said they called her that yellow kid, and than she started crying and it really touched a nerve in me to see a women in her 70s crying about something that happened to her when she was just a child. I think when I exchange that shirt at the mall today I'm going to get her cd. I really love her singing in french.

[boing007]

I think when I exchange that shirt at the mall today I'm going to get her cd. I really love her singing in french.

C'est si bon.

[naschkatze]

Autographed picture of King Farouk.

[jazzwoman]

I fully agree with CookieKat! I worked with Ms. Kitt several times over the years. I am an entertainment publicist in Boston and I first met her in the mid '90s when she was booked at Scullers Jazz Club, a club that I led the founding of, in the late '80s.

Eartha, more than any other musical artist I've worked with had the ability to rivet every single person in the room. Her show was such a huge hit that we booked her again and again. In 2005, I persuaded George Wein to book her as the opening act at the Newport Jazz Festival and again she knocked everyone out. Standing ovations!

On a personal level, I got to know Ms. Kitt during our excursions to TV tapings and interviews. When she came to Boston to perform once, she and I had lovely big glasses of red wine together and we talked about the difficulties and sadnesses of her life.

Sad and odd that she passed on Christmas, when she was so well known for "Santa Baby!"

[renatam]

Beautiful portrait, by the way!

[bootman69]

I saw Ms. Kitt when she was in Phoenix this past summer. I have been an ardent fan since the White House "incident" and had always wanted to see her. She blew me away. It will always rate as one of the best shows I have ever seen. This gracious woman had more class in her little finger than most people have in their whole body. I will miss her.

[dmacgregor]

Anyone who'd like a real musical treat should listen to Eartha's "Santa Baby!"

[larry278]

On the other hand, LBJ's career didn't end on a high note because of his keeping US forces in 'Nam. Eartha still is a show biz legend. She elevated the state of the art of singing playful, semi-erotic songs. As for LBJ, his Great Society was destroyed by RWR & the following presidents. W, another failed Tejas war president, destroyed all traces of LBJ's Great Society. LBJ's record in the senate is mixed. LBJ saw that he couldn't win another term & withdrew.
Eartha continues to be a show biz legend. She is also know as an outspoken advocate of peace.
W & LBJ are embarrasment to Tejas & to their parties. Don't expect to hear of W at future Republican conventions. Was LBJ even mentioned at the Democrats convention?
Eartha Kitt will continue to be emulated by other other singers.
Does any politician wish to emulate LBJ or W? Each man will have a library. W's library, like LBJ's, is fated to be avoided & ignored by both scholars & common people. Those who run LBJ's library count those who use the rest rooms when the near by stadium's rest rooms are mobbed by fans at a big game, as uses of LBJ's library. Announcers at the stadium direct fans to LBJ's library when the stadiums facilities are over taxed.
What ruse will those who will run W's library use to boost its anemic head count of visitors?
People will smile when they remember Eartha. Notice the response when

[CookieKat]

This is the first time in a v-e-r-y long time that I have cried over the death of a celebrity.
How I miss you already and wanted so badly to see you again after seeing you only once.

To the readers of this blog; if you love an older performer, see them now. The younger crop of singers and actors can't compare to many of the older ones. Yes, there are a few exceptions, but everything seems sooo cookie cutter, Disneyesque or boxed in today's entertainment culture. Not Ms. Kitt, however. Unique, her own woman, strong, bucked the system, talented, sure of herself and down to earth. RIP, you were a beauty inside and out.

[thedirtman]

I couldn't have said it better. Thanks.

[brooklyncitizen]

Indeed. They are literally dying out....and what is being ushered in is not a replacement or improvement.
I miss her already.

[fabhell]

Absolutely right. It seems like we lose another daily. I had tickets to see Ella Fitzgerald at the Hollywood Bowl, and sadly, the show was canceled because of ill health. Then, she died. It's heartbreaking to see an entire generation of greats going, going, gone.

RIP Miss Kitt. You will be missed.

[BillShea]

CookieKat, for the most part I agree with you but there are stand-out singers today such as Madeleine Peyroux, Jane Monheit, Tierney Sutton, k. d. lang and China Forbes (of Pink Martini). Haven't heard of them? Perhaps you're listening to the wrong radio stations (golden oldies?) and hanging out with the wrong crowd (over 50s?). BTW, I'll be 63 in two days. It's all about attitude, dude.