Josephine Baker US-born French singer and dancer Date of Birth: 03.07.1906 Country: France

1. Biography of Josephine Baker
2. Debut in Paris
3. A Star is Born
4. European Success
5. The Return of Josephine
6. A Life Full of Extravagance
7. A Life of Passion
8. War Heroine
9. Final Years

Biography of Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was an American-French dancer, singer, and actress. Known as the "Rainbow Woman," she was a famous African-American artist of the 1920s who danced with Hemingway and Le Corbusier, defended France against the fascists, and fought against racism in America. She was pursued by the FBI for her communist views and by bailiffs for debts. Josephine's life was like her dances: comical scenes with a touch of eroticism and sadness.

Debut in Paris

On October 2, 1925, 19-year-old Josephine Baker made her debut at the "La Revue Nègre" theater on the Champs-Élysées. It was one of the most memorable premieres of a Parisian theater in the 1920s. Critics wrote, "The black body appeared graceful and beautiful to the French for the first time." Josephine was born in 1906 in St. Louis. Her father was a drummer and her mother was a waitress. Josephine spent her youth like most black peers and was married twice by the age of 15.

A Star is Born

"First, I danced to keep warm, but then I realized that I was born to dance. To live for me means to dance." Josephine participated in "tent shows" - performances in a circus tent for a colored audience. Due to racial discrimination, the actors had to change the location of their performances almost every evening. By 1921, 15-year-old Josephine was already a well-known comedic dancer and performed difficult acrobatic numbers. Her lucky break came when she was invited to join the famous Broadway "black" troupe. Josephine was the "end-girl" in one of the musicals: she parodied the dancers during the performance and spun across the stage when they came out for an encore. Later, at the "Plantation" club - a haven for white jazz lovers - she met Spencer Williams, the author of "Everybody Loves My Baby." He helped her go on tour in Europe.

European Success

Young Josephine shone in Berlin, Brussels, Vienna, and Copenhagen. At the "Folies Bergère" theater in Paris, she caused a sensation when she emerged from behind the curtains covered only by a bunch of bananas. Under enthusiastic applause, she appeared on stage inside a satin rose Easter egg or lying on a mirror. Her charming French with a slight American accent and rare ability to imbue even the happiest songs with a melancholic expression enchanted her listeners. Josephine inspired sculptors, artists, poets, and architects. Adolf Loos dedicated the "Josephine Baker House" to her, Alexander Calder created wire sculptures, Gertrude Stein wrote a prose poem, and Paul Colin was the author of numerous portraits, lithographs, and advertising posters. Josephine claimed that even Picasso painted her many times (the works did not survive). However, her influence and spirit are easily recognizable in Matisse's famous series "Danseuse Créole" and "Jazz."

The Return of Josephine

The fashion for Le Jazz Hot gradually began to fade. In 1926, Josephine met Pepe Abatino, who became both a delightful lover and a good theater manager. He introduced her to Parisian high society and made her a star of the 1930s. They rarely saw each other but remained deeply attached. In 1927, Josephine appeared in her first film, "Women of Montmartre," followed by "Siren of the Tropics," "Zouzou," "Princess Tam-Tam," and "False Alarm." She was in high demand for film roles, and her fees were the highest in Europe.

A Life Full of Extravagance

Famous artists and designers created outrageous costumes made of feathers and sequins for Josephine. Poiret invented beaded, sparkling cylinders for her. Sometimes, dresses were made from fabric painted by fashionable cubists at the time. Josephine always attracted extraordinary people. In 1926, Ernest Hemingway danced with Josephine for the first time: "It was hot, but she was wrapped in a coat. We danced all evening, but she never took it off. Only when the club closed and we left, Josephine confessed to me that she had no clothes under the furs." Régine, the first wife of Georges Simenon, recalled, "We went to her nightclub almost every evening. Of course, Simenon was close to her. But at that time, I didn't know about it."

A Life of Passion

In 1929, aboard a liner from Rio de Janeiro to France, Josephine met the French architect Le Corbusier. She spent whole days in his cabin, posing naked, singing songs, and accompanying herself on a Hawaiian guitar.

Josephine's numerous romances did not affect her deep attachment to Abatino. Only after his death from cancer in 1936 did she marry the industrialist Jean Lion, whom she met at a horse riding club. However, they separated after a few years.

War Heroine

Even before the war, Josephine obtained French citizenship. She continued to perform on stage until the fall of the French Republic and often gave shows at the front lines. When the occupying forces entered Paris, Josephine was already a member of the voluntary organization "Free France," which supported the Resistance Movement. In 1941, she moved to Casablanca and from there used her money and connections to support Charles de Gaulle's supporters. Towards the end of the war, Josephine rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the French Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Final Years

Josephine returned to Paris in 1944 with the Allied forces. She recorded a record with Jo Bouillon, whom she soon married. In 1951, during her tour of America, Josephine began to be pursued by the FBI. At that time, many actors, writers, and journalists suffered from anti-communist repression. Josephine lost her work permit in the United States. She said, "Anyone who is not unfamiliar with the concepts of 'brotherhood' and 'freedom' is immediately accused of aiding the communists."

Josephine was unable to have her own children, so in 1953, she and her husband decided to adopt a little Japanese boy named Akio and a Korean boy named Janot. Within a few years, Josephine and Jo became parents to 12 children of various nationalities. They included French, Finns, Africans, Jews, Native Americans, and Arabs. Loved ones called them the "rainbow family." Now, this woman's extravagance manifested itself in a different way: if she bought shoes, it was 12 pairs at once; if she acquired pets, it was no less than four or five. At one point, Josephine lived with a pet snake, pig, goose, and cheetah.

All of this strained Josephine's relationship with Jo Bouillon. He left. Josephine's mother, brother, step-sister, and brother-in-law came to help her. Josephine managed her affairs independently and soon went bankrupt. After a few heart attacks, she resumed performing to support her family.

In 1969, Josephine's house was sold at auction. She barricaded the doors, and the new owners had to hire eight thugs to remove Josephine from the building. She spent the whole day sitting on the doorstep in her nightshirt. "The funniest thing," she later wrote, "is that my wig and false teeth were left inside."

She was taken to the hospital. There were rumors that she was dying. However, just two weeks later, Josephine reappeared on stage, giving seven performances a week. Thanks to the help of the Red Cross and Princess Grace of Monaco, Josephine, her sister, and her children were soon provided with a home.

Even in old age, Josephine was charming. At the age of 70, she pranced on the stage of the London Palladium wearing an ostrich feather turban. Once, during a performance, she stopped in the middle of the show and said to the audience, "Oh, madam, you embarrass me. Yes, you, with the little binoculars. Please, don't look through them. Don't lose your illusions."

In the end, Josephine's success returned. Tickets to her last performance sold out within a few months. She once again became the embodiment of all things beautiful: a goddess of dance, song, a fashion influencer, and a powerful defender of human rights.

In 1975, on a rainy spring day, thousands of people walked the streets of Paris behind Josephine's coffin, bidding her a final farewell. As a knight of the Military Cross, the Resistance, and the Legion of Honour, Josephine became the first American-born woman whose memory was honored with a 21-gun salute in the capital of France.