LOLA FALANA

Lola Falana got her first dancing job at the age of sixteen with thanks to Dinah Washington. The Queen of Blues was quite influential when it came to developing Falana’s early career, and giving her the opening slot at one of her shows was just an example of that. That opportunity would open the door to even bigger ones, including getting to work with Sammy Davis Jr. He gave Falana a featured role in the musical Golden Boy and mentored the young star until she released her first single with Mercury Records.

Davis would continue to push Falana toward greater heights. In 1966, he cast her in A Man Called Adam, alongside Ossie Davis and Cicely Tyson. This degree of success would continue until the 90s when she decided to retire. These days, she tours the country—not as a performer—but as a messenger of spirituality.