Entertainment

Desmond Wilson, Native of Valdosta Georgia, is most famous for his role as Lamont Sanford on the TV sitcom “Sanford and Son.” In 1984 Mr. Wilson became a minister and by 1991 he formed the Restoration House of America which gives spiritual guidance to former Inmates.

Elbridge Bryant, a native of Thomasville, Georgia, is one of the original members of The Temptations. He was fired from the group in 1963 after a fight after a show with fellow Temptations member Paul Williams.

Richard Roundtree is a former model and actor. He was born in New York, however his grandparents grew up at Pebble Hill Plantation, here in Thomasville, Georgia. His most famous role was in the movie “Shaft” where he played the lead role.

Danny Glover is an Actor who is famous for his role in the Lethal Weapons series, as well as many minor roles in several movies. He has been credited in over 200 movies, and currently lives in Thomasville, Georgia.

Emmanuel Lewis is a former actor and a 3 time People’s choice Award winner. He received his “big break” from his famous Jell-O commercial’s featured Bill Cosby. Additionally in 1983 he received his own TV show entitled “Webster,” where he stared as the main character until 1989 when the show was cancelled.

Ester Roll born in 1920, was an Emmy award winning actress. She was born in Miami, Florida but attended college in Atlanta. She started her acting career in the 1960’s and continued until her death in 1998. She won her Emmy for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun” as well as the maid in the Academy Award winning film “Driving Miss Daisy.”

Sidney Poitier was the first African American to be accepted as a universal figure on screens around the world. Additionally, he was the first African American Actor to win an Oscar, and received this prestigious award from his film “Lilies of the Field.”

Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for the Academy Awards in the category "Best Actress."

Butterfly McQueen was an actress famous for her role in the 1939 Film “Gone with the Wind.” In the movie she played Prissy, who was a slave to the main character. Despite her role in the film, she could not attend the movies premiere due to it being held at a White Only segregated theater

Earl Bostic at the Douglass High School Gymnasium located in Thomasville, Georgia for a benefit concert with the local shinners.

Gregory Hines is a celebrated performer and most notably one of the greatest tap dancers of all time. In this poster, it is a 60th birthday celebration for Gregory Hines to benefit the Ritz Theatre, and was hosted at the Jacksonville, Florida Civic Auditorium.

The Black Heritage Stamps are a set of 43 different people celebrated in the collection. Gregory Hines was celebrated as a 42nd out the 43 in the series. Hines is a celebrated performer and most notably one of the greatest tap dancers of all time, as well as a singer and a choreographer.

Sammy Davis Jr, is a celebrated Musician, actor, activist, and comedian. In this photo, Sammy Davis Jr. stands with other famous entertainers of his time. Pictured left to right, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey bishop.

Ebony Magazine is a monthly publication that targets the African American community. The magazine focuses on news and culture for African Americans. In this publication from 1974, it focuses on the rising performing group “The Jackson Five.”

Ebony Magazine is a monthly publication that targets the African American community. The magazine focuses on news and culture for African Americans. In this publication from 1984, focuses on Prince, one of the most famous and well known African American musicians.

This Conn Tenor Saxophone was made in 1914 and was played by Larry D. Gregory. Mr. Gregory was a music major from Bethune-Cookman and he eventually became the first African American probation officer in the state of Georgia. In this photo, Mr. Gregory is playing the Tenor Saxophone at Valdosta State College in the 1970s.

This 8 track cassette features Michael Jackson’s 4th studio release, and the last album from Motown records, before changing record labels.

This 8 track cassette features Michael Jackson’s 4th studio release, and the last album from Motown records, before changing record labels.

Ray Charles, a internationally acclaimed musician, was born in Albany, Georgia in 1930. In this article entitled “Charles Comes Home to Play,” it discusses a benefit concert for the Albany Urban League hosted at the Albany High School Auditorium on June 9th, 1979.

Marie Hadley Robinson is the first professional Opera Singer from Thomasville, Georgia. Additionally, she performed all over Europe, South America, and the United States.

Dionne Warwick is an acclaimed singer and humanitarian. As a singer she was a 6 time Grammy Award winner, and has sold over 85 million records. As a humanitarian, she served as the United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the US ambassador of Health. This poster is an advertisement for her performance at the Pebble hill Plantation, in Thomasville, Georgia.

Ebony Magazine is a monthly publication that targets the African American community. The magazine focuses on news and culture for African Americans. This publication from 1990 features Sammy Davis Jr’s death, and remembering him as the World’s greatest entertainer.

Louis Armstrong is one of the pioneers of Jazz, and through his long 50 year career, his influence of music is still around today. This poster is an advertisement for a performance in 1956 and “Satchmo” is proclaimed as the king of the trumpet.

Marie Hadley Robinson is the first professional Opera Singer from Thomasville, Georgia. Additionally, she performed all over Europe, South America, and the United States. In this article it discusses a tour of hers where she performed over 50 times all over France and Germany at U.S. garrisons.

B.B. King is considered a pioneer of blues guitar. He is an acclaimed musician and his works still influence Blues and Rock still to this day. This poster is an advertisement for tickets to performance in 1992, with B.B. King being proclaimed as King of the Blues.

This poster is for a performance of the Famous Jackson Five and Diana Ross and the Supremes. These 2 groups are some of the most influential pop groups of all time, with leading performers such as Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross.

Marvin Gaye is one of the most influential performers of his time, and known as the Prince of Soul. His album “Whats going on” is considered one of the greatest of all American Pop music. He was a trailblazer in the gene of R&B and pop, and was a devoted activist.

The city of Roses Thomasville Four was a quartet of Thomasville natives who performed at churches, schools and community events. Pictured left to right, WJ watts, basso, Morris Hadley, baritone, O.C. Chappell, First Tenor, and E.H. Smith, second tenor.

Johnnie Taylor is a multi-genre artist who performed in Blues, R&B, and soul and is also a 3 time Grammy nominee. This poster is for a performance at the Mathis Auditorium in Valdosta, Georgia.

The Golden Bell Singers from Thomasville, Georgia started singing in 1946 through the 1950s. The group would perform at Churches, Prison Camps and the Local Country Club.

Frank Dean Martin III was a Thomasville native, and a graduate from Douglass High School. After college, he started his radio career at Macon’s WIBB, and later he became manager of WPGA FM. Frank then moved to Piedmont communications in 1989 and in 2005 he was named “Most knowledgeable Radio Account Manager” by the Central Georgia Advertising Federation. On October 20th, 2018 Frank Dean Martin III was inducted in the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.