Sophie Tucker American actress and singer Date of Birth: 13.01.1886 Country: USA

Biography of Sophie Tucker

Sophie Tucker, an American actress and singer of Russian-Ukrainian descent, was known for her powerful voice, which greatly contributed to her success as one of America's most popular performers in the early 20th century. Born as Sonya Kalish in a Jewish family in Tulchin, Ukraine, her family immigrated to the United States when she was just a baby. They settled in Hartford, Connecticut, where her parents changed their surname to Abuza, and opened their own restaurant. It was from this restaurant that Sophie's singing career began.

In 1903, at the age of 17, Sophie married Louis Tuck and changed her surname to Tucker. During her marriage, she gave birth to a son and went on to marry two more times, although none of her marriages lasted longer than five years. At the beginning of her career, Tucker played the piano and sang in burlesque and vaudeville shows. For a period of time, she even performed in blackface.

Tucker initially struggled to make a breakthrough on the theatrical stage, as managers claimed she was not slim or beautiful enough for the spotlight. However, she channeled her disappointment into a song titled "Nobody Loves a Fat Girl, But Oh How a Fat Girl Can Love." Gradually, she was able to establish a reputation for herself, particularly for her songs in the African-American style.

By associating with elite African-American performers and composers of the time, Tucker received guidance on proper singing techniques and had songs written specifically for her. One of her early notable performances was in the "Ziegfeld Follies" series in 1909. However, she did not stay in the popular project for long, as other actresses felt overshadowed by her talent.

Tucker continued to perform solo and also collaborated with others. In 1921, she hired pianist and songwriter Ted Shapiro as her accompanist and musical director. Shapiro's role extended beyond composing songs and providing accompaniment; he engaged in lively banter with Tucker between numbers, entertaining the audience with their playful exchanges.

Throughout the 1920s, Tucker remained an active performer. One of her most famous songs, "My Yiddishe Momme," written by Jack Yellen in 1925, became incredibly popular, especially among the large Jewish population in major American cities. Tucker carefully selected when and when not to perform this song, knowing that it would not appeal to all of her listeners.

In addition to her stage performances, Tucker also appeared in several films, including the well-known "Broadway Melody" in 1938, where she portrayed Judy Garland's character's mother. From 1938 to 1939, she hosted her own 15-minute radio program called "Sophie Tucker and Her Show."

Tucker continued to perform actively in both the United States and the United Kingdom until her death in 1966 from lung cancer. At the time of her passing, she was 80 years old.