Thursday, December 25, 2008

Eartha Kitt (1927-2008)

With sadness, I pass along the news that Eartha Kitt has died, a few weeks short of her 82nd birthday. She had colon cancer.

CNN.com’s report is here.

Ms. Kitt was still in demand as a cabaret singer. Click here to hear “It Was a Very Good Year” from her 2006 CD “Live from the Café Carlyle.”

Three months ago, Gwen Ifill interviewed Ms. Kitt for a PBS special – “An Evening with Eartha Kitt” – which is due to be broadcast in February.

Below is a 1962 vidclip of Eartha Kitt at the height of her popularity. What a unique talent she was.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What would Christmas be without Santa Baby? She lived a full life. My condolences to her family.

intrepidideas said...

Wow... I've been dealing with Santa all day and missed the sad news. Thanks for the update. And Merry Christmas UBM. Thanks for the gift of your writing style for all of these years!

Anonymous said...

My first memory of her is as "Catwoman" in Batman. So sad that she's gone, but what a life she lived.

KeWayne said...

Geneva Girl said...
What would Christmas be without Santa Baby?
***************
GG, You are so right. It's always on my iPod's Holiday playlist. Her original version of 'Santa Baby' is 100 times better than anyone who attempted to cover it.

And sexy, whoooa........I'm not a foot man, but that is one sexy pose...

We've lost way too many of the good ones this year.

Dick Stone said...

My first memory of her is as "Catwoman" in Batman.

Mine too, and nobody played it any better. RIP

Ann Brock said...

She was a classy lady. I liked her performance in Boomerang. To me she became Cat woman.

Anonymous said...

I saw Miss Kitt last year when she performed at Cafe Carlyle in NYC. She was amazing. Re: Santa Baby- Sirius Radio's 'Holly' channel played Santa Baby many times this year but sadly it was always the Madonna version.

blackink said...

I'm a relative youngster, so my first bit of exposure to Eartha Kitt was as Lady Eloise in "Boomerang."

"I don't have any panties on ... " Classic scene.

But, no doubt, it's quite a loss. RIP.

Bedlam said...

She will be missed, prayers to her family.

bobby bell said...

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID MY MOTHER WOULD PUT ON RECORDS ON SATURDAY AND SHE WOULD SING TO THEM SOME TIME A LITTLE OF KEY BUT IT WAS COOL SHE WOULD PLAY ALL THE BEST DUKE ELLINGTON TO COUNT BASIE AND SAM COOK
AND WHEN SHE PUT ON EARTHA KITT SHE WOULD ALWAYS CRAALLLLLLLLL LIKE SHE DID AND I KNOW THAT MENT SHE WAS READY TO GET BUSY WITH POP (HOTHIN CRAZY) BUT IT WAS HER WAY OF HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH MUSIC
SO ILL MISS HER A TRUE CLASS ACT'

MS EARTH KITT RIP

bklyn6 said...

Goodbye, Ms. Kitt.

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Hello there!

Thank you for remembering Eartha Kitt so kindly. She was certainly a "take no prisoners" type of sista!

She will never be imitated!

She lived her life to the fullest and was not afraid to live courageously and take all of the costs that comes with it!

Thanks for this tribute.

Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa

Anonymous said...

My earliest memory of Eartha Kitt, apart from "Catwoman," of course, is when she denounced the Vietnam War when she was invited to the White House.

Wow! Did that take guts! And she paid the price for it, too. She couldn't make a living in the United States for many, many years.

Anonymous said...

Ms. Kitt was a true lady and amazing talent who will be missed. Condolences to her family and friends.

Nope said...

I remember being riveted to an interview she did on NPR. She has had quite a life. What a cool and classy lady (and those legs are to die for) RIP.