Ella J. Bradley-Hughley

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Ella J. Bradley-Hughley

Ella J. Bradley-Hughley (1889–1918) was an American choir director, and a soprano soloist (or operatic prima donna).[1][2] She was well known and active in Los Angeles between 1911 until 1918, where she was given the nickname the "Queen of Song".[3]

Biography[edit]

She was born as Ella J. Bradley on March 1, 1889, in Dallas, Texas, to a Black Christian family.[3] She attended Bishop College in Marshall, Texas and graduated in 1907.[3] In 1911, she married David H. Hughley in Dallas, and together they moved to Los Angeles, California shortly after marriage.[4][3] In Los Angeles she studied with Armenian gospel singer, J. Jurakian;[5][3] George H. Carr; and with Spanish operatic singer, Florencio Constantino.[3]

Her first performance in Los Angeles was presented by Reverend J. T. Hill at the Wesley Chapel.[3] She served as the department head of voice-culture department at the Wilkins Conservatory of Music (also known as the Wilkins Piano Academy), founded by William Wilkins.[6][3]

She died in February 1918.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Caldwell, Hansonia L. (2011). "African-American Voices of Traditional Sacred Music in Twentieth-Century and Twenty-first Century Los Angeles". Black Music Research Journal. 31 (1): 163–178. doi:10.5406/blacmusiresej.31.1.0163. ISSN 0276-3605. JSTOR 10.5406/blacmusiresej.31.1.0163. S2CID 194032566.
  2. ^ Jackson, George F. (1977). Black Women, Makers of History: A Portrait. George F. Jackson. p. 62.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Beasley, Delilah Leontium (1919). The Negro Trail Blazers of California: A Compilation of Records from the California Archives in the Bancroft Library at the University of California in Berkeley and from the Diaries, Old Papers and Conversations of Old Pioneers in the State of California. Times Mirror Print. and Binding House. pp. 216–217.
  4. ^ Spradling, Mary Mace (1985). In Black and White: A Guide to Magazine Articles, Newspaper Articles, and Books Concerning More Than 6,700 Black Individuals and Groups. Supplement. Gale. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-8103-0439-0.
  5. ^ "YMCA Meeting". Newspapers.com. Oakland Tribune. 15 May 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
  6. ^ Cox, Bette Yarbrough (1996). Central Avenue--its Rise and Fall, 1890-c. 1955: Including the Musical Renaissance of Black Los Angeles. BEEM Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-9650783-0-6.