Maya Angelou in Calypso Heat Wave (1957)

Calypso Heat Wave is a 1957 American film starring Merry Anders, Meg Myles and, as herself, Maya Angelou.
It was an attempt by producer Sam Katzman to repeat the success of Rock Around the Clock with calypso music. It was originally known as Juke Box Jamboree
Maya Angelou (/ˈændʒəloʊ/ (About this soundlisten);[1][2] born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014) was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.[3] Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
She became a poet and writer after a series of occupations as a young adult, including fry cook, sex worker, nightclub dancer and performer, cast member of the opera Porgy and Bess, coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and journalist in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. She was an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made around 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
-wikipedia
####
Reelblack's mission is to educate, elevate, entertain enlighten, and empower through Black film. If there is content shared on this platform that you feel infringes on your intellectual property, please email me at [e-mail] and [e-mail] with details and it will be promptly removed.

[@lineaalba4035]

It's like finding out your mother or favorite quiet aunt, had a very full life. And you just stubble upon the evidence right before your eyes !

[@radiantrenee406]

Right!!!!

[@dugebuwembo]

Yesssssssss!

[@SistahTuMuchMarley]

Through the decades,people were always surprised when I told them that she was a singer, dancer, and actor long before her senior years. She was even considered a sex symbol when she was Miss Calypso.

[@stargazer1359]

In life, Maya Angelou was a force to be reckoned with.....The teachings she left behind are to be treasured.

[@wolverinelogan9430]

Force she was a government agent use to destroy the blk family unit.

[@roxiet7016]

@@wolverinelogan9430 ..plz... How do you know??...your the agent/troll!!...

[@registame2878]

Facts

[@registame2878]

@@wolverinelogan9430 ok lol

[@morbidmanuscript9324]

@@wolverinelogan9430what makes you say that

[@Jossette888]

I can't believe our cultural ancestor Miss Angelou thought she was not a good singer. Her voice is lovely!

[@wolverinelogan9430]

@@taliyas4463 It's hmm!

[@wolverinelogan9430]

@@taliyas4463 300,000 BLK babies aborted a year!

[@wolverinelogan9430]

@@taliyas4463 Go toy with someone else

[@radiantrenee406]

@@wolverinelogan9430 that's a lie...can't trust the Satan, the father of lies...it even said it " discovered " Amerikkka.

[@roxiet7016]

@@radiantrenee406 .. Exactly... he’s the troll/agent.. he does this mess.. Report him...

[@destressfrlyf843]

I did not realize the depth of her talent

[@markpeter4304]

She was also principal dancer in Porgy (sp) and Bess

[@destressfrlyf843]

@@markpeter4304 Thnx

[@supernatural108]

She was beautiful

[@roxiet7016]

Yupp.. inside of and out!!! Imagine what she had to endure.. Wicked so called entertainment industry!!.. But still we rise 💫🖤💜🤍🤎

[@supernatural108]

@@roxiet7016 Absolutely!!

[@MadAngel209]

Maya Angelou was very attractive, wasn't she?

[@MadAngel209]

Actually, Maya Angelou was married to South African Civil Rights activist, Vusumzi Make.

[@wolverinelogan9430]

@@bighurt7107 EXACTLY a race traitor.

[@elvispresley1085]

Gone Ballistik your doubting your own opinion

[@danniosebastian6341]

Yes in deed.

[@paradoxlrainbow]

And she always says in her books she wasn't very attractive? girl !

[@yvonneyvonne8317]

Her voice 😍😍😍 Her voice whether singing or speaking was made for her.

[@l.m.g.8264]

I'm currently in the process of reading her autobiographical series and I had to to come search for footage of her singing and dancing. She was already the "seasoned" matriarch of black culture when I was kid, so I had no idea prior to her aging she was this amazingly talented singer and dancer! I'm so glad there's still footage of it.

[@WhereisDreamland]

Yes! Grateful to whom ever it was who kept this footage!

[@db60615]

The Caribbean twang in her voice is infectious!

[@AlanaGurl]

Just read about this in her book. Had to come see. She was absolutely beautiful and talented. I love this!

[@stevesilk53]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@ednorton5515]

Absolutely amazing , how did I not know she was a singer , she is an amazing woman

[@gwendolynechols7888]

Phenomenal woman!!!

[@sunrah4469]

Apparently was a wave around the late 50s...Harry Belafonte...Louis Farrakhan...Maya Angelou.

[@sunrah4469]

@Stanley Draper Woooo...did not know that 👍❤

[@roxiet7016]

@Stanley Draper .. great point!!! We constantly feed this so called American culture.. Thank u marvelous ancestors and elders... we keep the world going and enjoyable 💛🎶

[@ahmad.tillery.1987]

Dr. Maya Angelou was a beautiful young woman and had a very unique tone of voice. RIP Dr. Maya Angelou.

[@lynnmac5116]

The young Maya reminds me of Angela Bassett.

[@kelleybright3113]

It's a queen thing

[@bighurt7107]

Teyana Taylor too

[@scottyrob82]

She had a strong but very feminine physique. Plus she has a strong baritone voice.

[@scottyrob82]

@Mz Indigo Nikki Love You're correct. I should've said contralto.

[@germyw]

Contralto.

[@scottyrob82]

@@germyw I already corrected myself.

[@dmacable]

I never knew that she was a performer back then. I knew she done one movie, but I now see she was far more than just a poet. It's good too see such informative clips, movies and other historical things from the past. Alot of ppl would never know of such, if KZbin wouldn't have had such a platform to exhibit such shows. It's sad that other ppl come along and throw copywriters and such just to make a profit when a lot will be sealed away in a vault for no one to ever see. I highly enjoy looking for old movies likes this and very much enjoy watching. Keep up the good work. And may that higher power continue too bless you you bless others.

[@MrDevDivo]

Maya Angelou had a really hourglass shape when she was young... I would have never thought.

[@tom11zz884]

Nothing like the older version of Maya that we all best remembered her as.

[@themaggattack]

@@tom11zz884 If you think her younger self was nothing like her older self, then you must have missed her voice, her soul and her expression. Those things were exactly the same about her, throughout her entire life. Anyway, it doesn't take much to see that's the younger version of her beautiful face and body.

[@cnuicu]

Wow look at the natural trapezoid and triceps muscles on Maya.

[@causticwit]

I'm entranced. She was stunning ❤️

[@lindanismanqaliciousmncwaa4885]

Now she became our grandma. God blessed her with so many years . That is wonderful

[@omoyemoja-colafiuymi5505]

Beautiful iconic tall black woman🥰

[@m.1167]

Wolverine Logan move on with that rhetoric

[@wolverinelogan9430]

@@m.1167 Go yo ass to hell.

[@m.1167]

Wolverine Logan OH, GROW UP! Like I said, move tf on with that rhetoric! The young lady just commented on these true aspects of Dr. Maya Angelou. Talented, Smart, and beautiful! As for female empowerment what’s the problem with that? Especially BLACK “feminism”? As for single mother and eugenics I’m not sure what your getting at. I can almost bet you that your comments ain’t under a Jack Johnson or Sammy Davis Jr video. Y’all the same Black men who beat down on Black women for no reason at all. Just a shame and disgrace! If you cared about the Black race so much, what are you doing for us? Why you damning a Black woman to hell over the internet? Please grow up hun!

[@tlynn1993]

Phenominal

[@cedricturner2000]

I didn’t know she could sing! This is amazing!

[@motilarein4748]

Oh my god she’s beautiful

[@Thinkingthings1]

Maya was lookin good back then. Beauty looked so natural back then.

[@emiliateglia5382]

Loving watching this just as I’m reading about it in her autobiography. I’m on the third book and it’s just one of the most enthralling stories I’ve ever read. Not just because of the person she is but because of the historical perspective on US from the eye of a black American born in 1928. Amazing read, amazing woman.

[@solarwave]

I'm on her third one now (which brought me here). Her young life was quite deep and shocking. So much more than what's generally known about her.

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

Maya, got that 🔥. Along with Dorothy Dandridge and the with the rest of the actress through that era. 🎼🎙🌹

[@carmelmoore6465]

Love me some Maya Angelou read just finished Mom n Me. It will bring tears

[@germyw]

In that second clip, you hear she ALWAYS sounded like "Maya Angelou". Lol.

[@MrMystri]

She was absolutely gorgeous and statuesque, had no idea she was that tall, her voice was good too.

[@octaviaanderson6826]

Came here after reading 130/247 pages of one of her autobiography’s “singing, swinging, and dancing” it’s so fun to watch her so this after reading about it such an icon and there’s so much more to learn about and from her

[@chassidyakbar6741]

Why is this some of our first time seeing this and finding out more about her than we knew why the caged bird sings she was beautiful inside and out 😊

[@StandingInTheGAPMinistriesInc]

Great post !! Just great !!!

[@CharronBlue]

Maya was Pearl Bailey's under study. Pearl was a mean girl back in the day and called Maya ugly. Mind you the share similar features, hence under study gig.

[@germyw]

@Jim Stark If you think thAt only happens with black people you are lost. Ridiculous the shit y'all put on us. Smh

[@radiantrenee406]

I just discovered the life of Pearl Bailey. Thanks for the lead. Knowledge is Power

[@radiantrenee406]

They look like sisters...thsts that deep inner self hate Pearl had towards Maya. Lol

[@1cathexis]

A GREAT find, thanks!

[@melissavidic2895]

I had no idea she sang, beautiful!

[@CJJohnson-tt6xs]

Cj at the age of 75 years old I don't remember hearing of them glad you did this documentary but whatever happen to the sylvers I remember them when I was in elementary school when they started out as the little angels on the grocho Marx this is your life❤❤

[@ahmosethemelanite9325]

Your channel is the best.MAYA WAS BEAUTIFUL

[@samlsd9711]

I think Maya Angelou inspired so many Ethiopian artists in Ethiopia back in that time, my mom told me it was very popular when they were growing up.

[@heathertea2704]

GET IT Maya! 👏👏👏

[@davidduncan9466]

I never Maya was a singer too. Just knew her as a poet.

[@sexysonia45]

Another good upload 👌 Never knew she sang too. Rip ✝️

[@elizabethtorres6069]

🍃👩🏻Thank you ReelBlack One, I didn't know who Maya Angelou was after seeing her image on the back if a quarter.. Got curious.. Searched her, and HER story, not THEIRS.. A couple of beautiful inspiring Quotes.. And now a gorgeous singing actress.. They didn't teach me about her in school.. In ALL of my schooling years. Now this is what I call, REEL schooling! 👩🏻📚🍃

[@lilacbelly]

Gorgeous

[@patriciagathigia5017]

Reading Singin' and Swingin' and gettin' merry like Christmas then seeing this is... Speechless ❤️

[@registame2878]

She could sing and perform to; what a woman

[@lynnmac5116]

LOVE... THIS!!! 🙌🏾❤🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@natprime2652]

Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹....Pearl Primus home land!!

[@michaeljoseph741]

'Miss Calypso herself'. Americans always want to appropriate everyone else's culture.

[@J.cookie_official]

I was today years old when I found out Maya Angelou was a singer 😮

[@richgirl5190]

Such a queen👑

[@thevelveteenking4440]

wow

[@JustJohnice]

Such a rich and sustaining voice!

[@holyspacemonkey]

Such an extraordinary human being. 👑

[@Anzalipuri]

Today we read about her and I am came to watch her song❤ She is just amazing yr

[@catherinemorand500]

Outstanding!

[@leetate1963]

I had no idea she was so beautiful

[@shantestephens5120]

Beautiful

[@danitahill9845]

Amazing 👏

[@e.figueiredo6293]

Uma grande mulher, em todos os sentidos !

[@kirkchan7726]

one of the most important humans for sure! thank you, Ms. Angelou

[@JByrdJr]

This fire 🔥

[@popularloner4279]

Love it!

[@JohnSmith-td7hd]

She would have done very well today. Beautiful face and body and an unusual voice.

[@amzztv04]

Oh wow Calypso birthed in Trinidad 🇹🇹 has traveled across the world. Maya singing it is a great example of that. Long live calypso music!

[@eg8419]

Great ! Thank you.

[@banitoblake1497]

Damn! I didn't know Maya Angelou used to be so hot! 🍺😉👍

[@HAL_9000__]

My mind is blown! I had no idea she sang. Very cool.

[@eileencastillo6323]

Oh Wow, this is great.

[@vleldaddio210]

At least she was honest about having turned to running around in bars,the fast life, selling All Woman BODY to survive 👍👏🙌😵 So it just goes to so show you that PEOPLE CAN AND WILL WITH DETERMINATION AND POSITIVITY CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER NOT ONLY FIR THEM BUT FOR ALL OTHERS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH IN PERSON OR OTHERWISE 🤯💯 RIP MAYA THANKS FOR MAKING NOT ONLY MY LIFE BETTER BUT THE WORLD JUST A LITTLE BETTER PLACE TO LIVE 🤗

[@justice-jb5ld]

Maya sure was an extremely good looking lady.

[@CJJohnson-tt6xs]

Cj at the age of 75 years old I don't remember hearing of them glad you did this documentary but whatever happen to the sylvers I remember them when I was in elementary school when they started out as the little angels on the grocho Marx this is your life

[@dudefrombelgium]

Why are some people in the comments hating on her? She was gorgeous in this performance and her expressions are authentic. I don't understand the disapproval.

[@CHUNGAandNANOOK]

What a bop

[@laurelince96]

Thanks Anne Marie. Met her in London in 1987. She was “all that and then some!”

[@Inkdbymiami]

2:54 St8 BARRS 🔥🔥💯

[@antonybrown432]

Miss Maya Angelou is actually from my City St Louis

[@BrookeMichaela1]

It’s just something about those Aries!

[@radiantrenee406]

Thank you for posting Black EXCELLENCE

[@eramorgan7375]

She was tall, she was beautiful and a great singer. Question: doesn't she sound a little like Della Reese?

[@verasmith4767]

I knew she was a singer. But never saw a video of her singing.

[@Belrivers]

The original Calypso was very political this is the toned down version.

[@sunrah4469]

Interesting. I did not know that there was ever a political aspect to the music.

[@stacistewart815]

Why is this suppose to be Trinidad, but most of the people there look Spanish??

[@roxiet7016]

@@stacistewart815 .. righttt... I was distressed about that too...

[@StellarAvenger]

She reminds me of Gabriel Union here. Beautiful lady and super talented.

[@apex_prowler95]

Wow, I had never seen a young Maya until now. Thanks very much for all your channel does. What can we do to assist against the KZbin villains that are giving you'll grief?

[@bighurt7107]

Not just Angela Bassett, favors Teyana Taylor too

[@curtistisdale8150]

Gabrielle Union better jump on. Bio-pic about Ms Maya ( RIP)... Maya is Just Amazing.... Breathtaking, Stunning, and Just The Most Gorgeous Woman Ever Created...

[@kelleybright3113]

Wow so proud 2 b a brown girl we are the truth..talented, beauty, grace..and yea u caint duplicate it

[@DjClife2024]

2:50

[@braidedgirl757]

Wow.....I thought I was looking at Angela Bassett for a minute lol

[@meganphilip214]

How can I watch the full movie?

[@cdjw8068]

Beautiful Queen. Eloquent. Speaking. Pancakes. 🤣🤧😷

[@daveolep7657]

Wow I yhauhjt she was from the Caribbean.

[@GeorgeOforiAtta]

Maya back in the day was cute.

[@alanoneill3065]

When it comes to Calypso, I prefer Roaring Lion myself Dancing?....Katherine Dunham

[@uptownscenery9175]

Maya invented doing the race 🚓🚨

[@gabrielporfirio9544]

E essas de hoje em dia se acham. Pobres almas. She Maia is big single.

[@roz.b.7512]

Real beautiful black women oh yes!!!

[@kaycisnaros5547]

Macy's 143ee

[@innocence8220]

She looks like Gabrielle Union. ❤️

[@dereklwashington1132]

Even sexy she's talking real s

[@Nifflersnifflers]

Heat wave? Heat wave? HEAT WAVES?