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A Black History Month Event Co-sponsored by Hotel Metropolitan- One of Paducah's most treasured historic & cultural landmarksSongbird of the South tells the story about the life of Rhythm and Blues singer Mary Ann Fisher. This one-woman performance experience chronicles Fisher's life from her tragic and traumatic childhood beginning in Henderson, Kentucky. But Fisher endures her early life challenges when her destiny begins to change in 1941 when she wins a talent contest singing at the Lyric Theatre on Walnut Street. Winning the contest earned her the name Songbird of the South. She becomes a popular local talent around Louisville and ascends to be one of the first talented singers whose life and art became professionally and personally intertwined with the legendary Ray Charles. But Fisher's story continues after she leaves the Ray Charles Band. Her voice landed her gigs with legends like Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, James Brown, Hank Crawford, Jackie Wilson, Percy Mayfield, and Bobby Bland. She also performed with Dinah Washington at Carnegie Hall and Billie Holiday before her death in 1959. This performance tells the compelling story about Mary Ann Fisher's journey in becoming one of the first African American women to have a career as a Rhythm and Blues singer, thus paving the way for future generations.
Marshall was mentored by Mary Ann Fisher for eighteen years until Fisher’s passing on March 12, 2004.
Marjorie Marshall is a Playwright, Producer/Songwriter of “Songbird of the South, the Real MaryAnn Fisher Stony”, The Rebirth of Black Civilization, and sitting Chair of the Kentucky Music Heritage Foundation, Ms.”M’s Major Motivations are to educate, curate and promote the history of music in, and of Kentucky!
All programs are free & open to the public
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
555 Washington St, Paducah, KY, United States, Kentucky 42003
