Wikipedia

Barbara McNair

Barbara Jean McNair[1][2][3][4][5] (March 4, 1934 – February 4, 2007) was an American singer and theater, television, and film actress. McNair's career spanned over five decades in television, film, and stage. McNair's professional career began in music during the late 1950s, singing in the nightclub circuit. In 1958, McNair released "Till There Was You", her debut single for Coral Records, which was a commercial success.[6] McNair performed all around the world, touring with Nat King Cole and later appearing in his Broadway stage shows I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole in the early 1960s.[7]

Barbara McNair
McNair, 1967
Born
Barbara Jean McNair

(1934-03-04)March 4, 1934
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2007(2007-02-04) (aged 72)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationUCLA (attended)
American Conservatory of Music
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1956–2007
Spouses
Earl Wright
​
​
(m. 1953; div. 1955)​
Jack Rafferty
​
​
(m. 1963; div. 1971)​
Rick Manzie
​
​
(m. 1972; died 1976)​
Ben Strahan
​
​
(m. 1979; div. 1986)​
Charles Blecka
​
(m. 2006)​
RelativesCurtis Knight (cousin)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Labels
Websitebarbaramcnair.com

By the 1970s, McNair had switched to acting in films and television; she played Sidney Poitier's character’s wife in They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel The Organization (1971). In her later years, McNair returned to performing in nightclubs and on cruise ships. She died of throat cancer on February 4, 2007, at the age of 72.

Biography

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Early life and education

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With her parents' encouragement, McNair began singing in school productions and during church services.[8] McNair attended Washington Park High School, graduating in 1952.[9]

After high school, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.[10] She also briefly attended UCLA because she had been raised to believe that whatever people planned to do with their lives they had to go to college to learn how to do it. She dropped college after one year when she felt it had nothing to do with what she wanted to accomplish.[11]

Career

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In the late 1970s, McNair was one of the original members of the "Four Girls Four" act, along with Rose Marie, Rosemary Clooney, and Margaret Whiting.[12][13] She was quickly replaced by Helen O'Connell, however, as she was deemed too young to fit in with the rest of the group.[14]

Personal life

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McNair was married five times and had no children. McNair's first husband was Earl Wright, to whom she was married from 1953 until 1955.[citation needed] From 1963 until 1971, McNair was married to Jack Rafferty. In August 1972, she married Rick Manzie, whom she had met in 1965 during a separation period from Rafferty (McNair remained married to Rafferty as he helped co-produce The Barbara McNair Show along with Rick Manzie, who lived with Barbara in their Las Vegas home at 4265 South Bruce Street).[citation needed] McNair and Manzie remained married until his murder in December 1976. Three years after Manzie's death, McNair married Ben Strahan in 1979 in Las Vegas.[15] McNair and Strahan divorced in 1987. Her last marriage was to Charles Blecka in 2006, whom she was married to at the time of her death. McNair is the cousin of musician Curtis Knight.[16][17]

1972 arrest and Manzie

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In October 1972, McNair was arrested for possession of heroin at the Playboy Club in New Jersey.[18] The charges stemmed from McNair’s signing for a package delivered to her home that contained drugs. McNair stated she had had no knowledge of the contents of the package nor who had sent it. McNair's then-husband Rick Manzie was later charged with the crime and charges against McNair were dropped in April 1973.[19]

On December 15, 1976, Manzie was murdered in their Las Vegas mansion.[20] Mafia boss-turned-FBI-informant Jimmy Fratianno later claimed in his book The Last Mafioso that Manzie had been a Mafia associate and had tried to put out a contract on a mob-associated tax attorney with whom he had had a legal dispute.[21]

Bankruptcy, later years, and death

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McNair filed for bankruptcy in September 1987, with debts totaling $458,399 ($1.2 million today).[22] Into her 70s, she resided in the Los Angeles area, playing tennis and skiing to keep in shape, and touring on occasion. McNair died on February 4, 2007, after a seven-year battle with throat cancer in Los Angeles.[23]

Filmography

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Discography

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Albums

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  • Front Row Center (Coral CRL57209, 1959)
  • Love Talk (Signature SM 1042, 1960)
  • The Livin' End (Warner WS 1570, 1964)
  • I Enjoy Being A Girl (Warner WS 1541, 1964)
  • Here I Am (Motown MS-644, November 1966)
  • The Real Barbara McNair (Motown MS-680, April 1969)
  • More Today Than Yesterday (Audio Fidelity – AFSD 6222, 1969)
  • Here's To Life (TECaid, 2006)

References

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  1. ^ Burrows, Frances Beard (1996). Keith family of South Carolina. South Carolina: F B Publications. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. ^ McCann, Bob (2010). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9780786437900.
  3. ^ The Golden Age of American Musical Theatre: 1943-1965, By Corinne J. Naden.Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Betts, Graham (2014). "Barbara McNair". Motown Encyclopedia. AC. ISBN 9781311441546. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  5. ^ Wilson, Scott (August 22, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3d ed.). McFarland. p. 504. ISBN 9780786479924. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cute Wisconsin Thrush Big Hit in Europe, South America". Jet. XVI (19): 60–61. September 3, 1959. Retrieved January 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Ruuth, Marianne (December 2, 1992). Nat King Cole. Holloway House Publishing. ISBN 9780870675935. Retrieved December 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Fox, Margalit (February 6, 2007). "Barbara McNair, 72, a Singer, Actress and Host of a TV Show, Dies". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Classmates, 1952 Washington Park High School, Racine, WI, Yearbook. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Leigh, Spencer (February 7, 2007). "Barbara McNair". The Independent. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  11. ^ YouTube Aug 16, 1997, video "Backstage With Fred Cooper" show, interview with Barbara McNair.
  12. ^ "Variety Reviews of Rosemary's performances". rosemaryclooney.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Wilson, John S. (August 19, 1977). "Miss Whiting Happens to Like New York". The New York Times.
  14. ^ "Four Girls Four, Rosemary Clooney,Barbara McNair,Margaret Whiting,Rose Marie, 1978 TV". April 25, 2015 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Singer Barbara McNair Files for Bankruptcy September 14, 1987.
  16. ^ President Records Website – Curtis Knight
  17. ^ Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks – The Titans By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Larry Greene.
  18. ^ Berry, William Earl (December 7, 1972). "What Dope Arrest Is Doing to Career of Barbara McNair". Jet. XLIII (11): 54–57. Retrieved January 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Barbara McNair Cleared in Drug Rap; Husband Held". Jet. XLIV (6): 54. May 3, 1973. Retrieved January 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Reputed Chicago crime figure Anthony Spilotro wanted two hit..." United Press International. August 25, 1982. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  21. ^ Miller, Bobby W. (2012). "Barbara McNair – Abyss of Consequences". Bobmillerwrites.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  22. ^ "Singer Barbara McNair Files for Bankruptcy". Jet. 72 (25): 22. September 14, 1987. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved January 24, 2018 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ Adelman, Jacob (February 6, 2007). "Obituary – Celebrity Barbara McNair dies at 72". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
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