Joyce Bryant was an American singer, dancer and civil rights activist. She was one of the major black nightclub and theater singers in the 1950s often referred to as the bronze blond bombshell and the Black Marilyn Monroe. Bryant was born in Oakland, California the third of eight children. Her career began in 1946 when she was visiting her cousins in Los Angeles, she agreed on a dare to participate in an impromptu singalong at a local club she started singing and drew the eye of the club owner w... moreJoyce Bryant was an American singer, dancer and civil rights activist. She was one of the major black nightclub and theater singers in the 1950s often referred to as the bronze blond bombshell and the Black Marilyn Monroe. Bryant was born in Oakland, California the third of eight children. Her career began in 1946 when she was visiting her cousins in Los Angeles, she agreed on a dare to participate in an impromptu singalong at a local club she started singing and drew the eye of the club owner who offered her $25 to perform and she agreed. After that she began gaining popularity and acquiring a series of gigs. In 1952 Bryant released a couple of records with Love for Sale being one of her greatest hits. Some of her songs were banned from radio due to the provocative lyric content. In 1954 she was named one of the five most beautiful black women in the world by Ebony magazine. In 1955 she quit performing to do missionary work only to return in 1960 as an Opera singer. In the 1980 she was performing jazz and was also a vocal teacher.
