Gardella, Tess (1897–1950)

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Gardella, Tess (1897–1950)

Italian-American comedic singer. Name variations: Aunt Jemima. Born 1897 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; died Jan 3, 1950, in Brooklyn, NY.

Known professionally as Aunt Jemima (performed in blackface), appeared in nightclubs, vaudeville, George White's Scandals and as Queenie in Showboat and its revival (1927 and 1932).

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