The Queen

People You Should Know — By Buddy Sampson on May 23, 2010 at 4:25 pm

There have been several icons in history worthy of the title queen. There is the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II. In music, there’s the Queen of Soul, the legendary Aretha Franklin. Merrill Webster defines a queen as “a goddess or a thing personified as female and having supremacy in a specific realm.” Entertainment icon Della Reese is the pure definition of Queen. She has had supremacy in the entertainment industry for many years and if there were anyone deserving of the term, it should be her.

Della Reese is show business royalty. Listing Reese’s credits include her in the definitive entertainment mediums of our time. A part of the premiere years of television, she was the first African-American woman to host the Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson. Her television appearances have invited her into the homes of residents all over the world, with her appearing on shows such as Sanford and Son, Chico And The Man, The Merv Griffin Show, Night Court, Designing Women and MacGyver. If that isn’t enough, she’s graced the TV shows 227, The A Team, The Love Boat, McCloud, Police Story, The Mod Squad, Vegas, Welcome Back, Kotter, L.A. Law and many, many others. In terms of movies, you’ve seen her in Beauty Shop, with Queen Latifah, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Psychic Killer, A Distinguished Gentleman and The Kid Who Loved Christmas, among others.

One of her favorite roles, playing the part of Vera, was in the movie Harlem Nights, which featured late comedy greats Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. It also starred Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy. “A lot of what happened off camera was funnier that what ended on screen,” laughed Della Reese. “Working with that cast was one of the best times of my life.” But many of her young and older fans know her as Tess on the iconic TV show Touched by an Angel. “You can still see the show on the Hallmark Channel,” she says. ‘I’m very proud of my work on that show.”

Currently in her seventies and proud to admit it, her career started an early age. Born in Detroit, Michigan, The Queen, born Delloreese Patricia Early, began singing in church at the tender age of six. At thirteen, she sang with gospel matriarch Mahalia Jackson’s gospel group. Later, after singing for Detroit’s famed Flame Show bar to critical acclaim, she signed a record deal in 1953 with Jubilee Records, recording six albums. She moved to RCA Records in 1959 and recorded perhaps her most popular hit, “Don’t You Know,” which went to #2 on the Pop charts. She became a mega-popular singer in the sixties, garnering several Grammy nominations.

But The Queen isn’t done yet. If you’ve heard rumors that Queen Reese has no desire to return to acting, rest assured- the rumors are false. In fact, although The Queen is being mum about her next project, she’s currently being considered for several roles that will add to her considerable legend. But her biggest role is serving the Creator-the Queen is a minister for a church she founded, Understanding Principles For Better Living. She also takes pride in being a mentor for young, up and coming talent. The lady is pure royalty, for sure, inside and outside the church.

On Saturday, June 20, The Queen will be hosting Della Reese Presents at the Wilshire Theater, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills at 8PM. Produced by herself and Michael Stone (www.michaelstoneevents.com) the show, which will be hosted by comedian Tommy Davidson, features Jon B, Noel, a spectacular new artist, SWV (Sisters With Voices) and more.  Why SWV (Sisters With Voices)? “They had great hits in 90’s, ten or twelve hits, and I haven’t seen them in a while,” said Reese. “I hadn’t seen them in a while and I want to see them again and I’m absolutely sure that other people do, too and get to enjoy them yet again.” Reese is very excited about the show “All the people on the show are really entertaining,” laughed The Queen. “I wouldn’t present them otherwise.”

Normally we end the “People You Should Know” column with something like “Della Reese is one of the People You Should Know,” but that would be entirely useless, because everyone knows her. If you don’t know whom The Queen, Della Reese is, perhaps you need to get from under that rock you’ve been hiding. Let’s have a tribute and salute true Hollywood royalty in the appropriate manner.

Hail to The Queen!

We’d like to thank Franklin Lett Jr., The Queen’s King and Eugenia Wright for this story.