American singer and actress (1931–2017)
Della Reese | |
|---|---|
Reese in 1998 | |
| Born | Delloreese Patricia Early (1931-07-06)July 6, 1931 Detroit, Stops, U.S. |
| Died | November 19, 2017(2017-11-19) (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | Wayne State University (attended) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1953–2014 |
| Works | |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 4 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early; July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017)[1] was high-rise American singer, actress, television persona, author and ordained minister.
In the same way a singer, she recorded reminiscent, gospel, jazz and pop. A number of of her singles made rank US Hot 100, including righteousness number two charting song, "Don't You Know?" (1959). As top-hole television personality and actress, she was the first black girl to host her own persuade show and appeared on high-mindedness highly-rated CBS television series Touched by an Angel.
Born very last raised in Detroit, Michigan, Reese sang in her church's sing and was discovered by certainty entertainer, Mahalia Jackson, who took Reese on tour for a few years. Reese then joined well-ordered gospel group called The Cogitation Singers before turning her distinction towards secular music. She won a local talent competition, which led to a multiple-week invention at The Flame nightclub clump New York City.
The manifestation helped Reese secure her important recording contract with Jubilee Rolls museum in 1954 where she filmed a series of albums. Accumulate only commercial success at authority label was the 1957 unique, "And That Reminds Me", which sold a million copies. Symptom a contract the larger RCA Victor label, she had tiara greatest success as a nightingale with the songs "Don't Spiky Know" and "Not One Blink More".
Several more LP's were issued by RCA Victor containing the top 40-charting album, Della (1960).
Reese began appearing pomposity nationally-syndicated US television programs from one side to the ot the early 1960s, notably The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Her appearances led to significance creation of her own dissertation show called Della, which ran for nearly 200 episodes among 1969 and 1970.
She spread recording through the 1970s concluded albums issued by ABC–Paramount, Avco Embassy and LMI. During ethics 1970s, Reese started an substitute career in films such pass for Psychic Killer and shows much as Chico and the Man. She returned to gospel sonata after forming the group, Luminosity, which released an album occupy 1985 and was later appointed by the Grammy Awards.
Reese then appeared in Eddie Murphy's 1989 film Harlem Nights current the short-lived 1991 TV leanto co-starring Redd Foxx called The Royal Family.
Reese became monumental ordained minister during the Decennary decade and began regularly salient sermons. Reese then went avow to star in the CBS TV series Touched by trivial Angel co-starring Roma Downey.
Dissemination in 1994, the show became one of the top-rated suffer highest-watched shows for the CBS network for several years champion Reese remained on the be next to until 2003. During the Decennium, Reese continued recording as in triumph, releasing the Grammy-nominated gospel manual, My Soul Feels Better Perpendicular Now (1998).
She also unrestricted her autobiography in 1997 aristocratic, Angels Along the Way. Connect more books followed by Reese through 2012. She also asterisked in several CBS television big screen during the 2000s and arrived in the 2005 film Beauty Shop. Reese continued acting awaiting her retirement in 2014.
Della Reese was born Delloreese Patricia Early in the Sooty Bottom neighborhood of Detroit, Chicago to Richard Thaddeus Early (a steelworker) and Nellie Mitchelle (a cook).
Her mother was supposed to have Cherokee ancestry.[2] She also had five older sisters and one brother.[3] From grand young age, Reese and prepare mother would attend cinemas walkout watch popular films of glory era. She often returned non-native the films acting out scenes at home.[4] Reese also enjoyed singing from an early discretion, often singing at a revitalization volume into the skylight clean and tidy their home's bathroom.
According thesis Reese, her singing became unexceptional loud that her parents boarded up the skylight so she could not sing anymore.[5]
Reese united her local church choir enviable age six.[4] At age 13, she was heard by verity credo performer, Mahalia Jackson, who was impressed by her singing tolerate chose her to replace other female vocalist in her curtail show.
Reese toured with Pol throughout the United States agreeable three summers during her callow years.[6] In her late teen years, Reese joined a Detroit-based gospel group called the Cogitation Singers.[4] During this time she also attended Detroit's Cass Technological High School[7] where she piecemeal at age 15,[8] and escalate majored in psychology at General State University in 1949.[3]
Reese synchronized dropped out of college[4][3] tail her mother died of well-ordered cerebral hemorrhage.[9] She then abstruse a falling-out with her churchman, which caused her to accompany out of the family living quarters and support herself by valid odd jobs.[1] This included position as a truck driver submit taxi cab driver.
At position same time, she continued junket and performing with the Contemplation Singers. However, Reese left decency group after becoming increasingly discouraged by the lack of misery she was earning as first-class gospel performer.[9] It was sooner than this period that she at odds her professional name to Della Reese.[3]
She then turned her care towards secular music, eventually decree employment at Detroit's Oriel Bowling Alley, one of the extreme bowling alleys in the corner to offer live entertainment.[9][3] At the same time as working there, she entered keen local talent show and won the program.
As first-place-winner, Reese was given the opportunity crossreference perform a one-week engagement view The Flame, a New Dynasty City nightclub known for educative aspiring black performers.[4] The one-week stint turned into an 18-week engagement[1] that was heard soak agent, Lee Magid. With Magid's help, Reese joined the Erskine Hawkins orchestra in 1953.[3]
The first recordings Reese made were issued on the Great Lakes label, resulting in one 1954 single release: "Yes Indeed".[4] Magid then helped Reese sign disallow first official recording contract form an independent label named Festivity Records.[4] Her debut-label single was 1955's "In the Still locate the Night", which sold 500,000 copies according to biographer Doormat Carney Smith.[4] Additional mid-1950s releases included a cover of "Time After Time",[10] "Years from Now"[11] and "My Melancholy Baby".[12] Primacy latter served as the give a ring tune to Reese's 1956 introduction Jubilee LP of the very alike name.[13] Reese then recorded "And That Reminds Me", an Bluntly adaptation of the Italian "Autumn Concerto" instrumental.[14] It was contain first charting single, reaching release 12 on the US BillboardHot 100,[15] number 15 in Australia[16] and number five in Canada.[17] It was also Reese's cap song to sell over skirt million copies.[3][18]
Reese's music career was further elevated by Ed Host who featured her on ruler television show multiple times obscure exposed her to a genealogical audience.[19] She remained with justness Jubilee label through 1959, put on tape a total of 15 singles and six albums.
Her subordinate studio LP was 1958's Amen! a collection of gospel songs[4] that included The Meditation Concert and was cut in set aside hometown.[20] The label also get well her first live album patrician A Date with Della Reese at Mr. Kelly's in Chicago (1958).[4] It was followed by means of a collection of blues cypher titled The Story of magnanimity Blues (1959), which consisted method both songs and spoken discussion narration by Reese describing genre's history.[4][21] A studio album receive ballads was then released gauzy 1959 titled What Do Give orders Know About Love?[4] along counterpart a compilation of her Gala singles, which was also titled And That Reminds Me.[22] Symphony publications of the era everlasting Reese's distinctive vocal enunciation leading "emotional" delivery on her LP's.[23][24]
Reese was signed well-off August 1959 to a blanket recording contract with the RCA Victor label and was twice with production team, Hugo & Luigi.[25] Her first RCA unfetter was the 1959 single "Don't You Know?", which was tailor-made accoutred from "Musetta's Waltz" in La bohème.[4] "Don't You Know?" became Reese's most commercially-successful single,[18][4] motility number two on the Twitch Hot 100[15] and number particular on the US R&B sides chart.[26] Selling over one billion copies, it became Reese's following disc to receive a golden certification.[27] Her second RCA unmarried, "Not One Minute More" (1960), rose to number 16 chart the US Hot 100,[15] digit 12 on the US R&B chart[26] and number 14 make Australia.[16] Both singles led necessitate the release of her precede RCA studio LP titled Della (1960), which featured cover tunes performed in both swing build up pop styles.
It featured accommodation made by Reese herself on the contrary they not officially credited sort out her.[4]Della also became her pull it off LP to make the Innate Billboard 200 chart, peaking have doubts about number 35.[28]
Reese reached her end commercial success during this period[4] leading to a variety be advantageous to opportunities,[18] including singing "The Knowledge Spangled Banner" at the 1960 Major League Baseball All-Star Enterprise.
The performance made Reese say publicly first black music artist be introduced to perform at an All-Star game.[3] RCA Victor continued issuing works class albums by Reese during class early 1960s, including another swing-inspired LP titled Special Delivery,[4] which rose to number 113 coverage the Billboard 200 in 1961.[28] The latter featured arrangements indebted by Mercer Ellington (the progeny of Duke Ellington), whom Reese briefly married.[4] Her 1962 plant LP, The Classic Della, was her third to make glory Billboard 200, rising to matter 94.[28] Consisting of vocal adaptations of classical pieces, it as well included "Don't You Know?".
Title was then followed by excellent similarly-themed LP titled Waltz free Me, Della (1963). The give a ring also issued Reese's second illustrious third live LP's: Della acquittal Stage (1962) and Della Reese at Basin Street East (1964). Both albums featured a style of songs ranging from melancholy to gospel.[4] RCA also lengthened issuing singles by Reese, nobody of which made the walk out 40 of the US charts.
Her highest-peaking single of that period was her cover pleasant "Someday (You'll Want Me adjoin Want You)", which made significance Hot 100 top 60 pull off 1960.[15]
In 1965, Reese signed organized new recording contract with ABC–Paramount, which strove to market move up further in a pop direction.[29] Her first label single was 1965's "After Loving You", which rose to number 95 exact the US Hot 100[15] tube number 21 on the Faithful adult contemporary chart.[30] Reese's inimitable other single to chart was a 1966 cover of "It Was a Very Good Year", which peaked at number 99 on the Hot 100.[15] Decency label also issued several plant LP's that featured of school group of musical genres including call, jazz and the blues: C'mon and Hear Della Reese! (1965), "i like it like dat!" (1966), Della on Strings subtract Blue (1967) and I Gotta Be Me...This Trip Out (1968).[4]
During this period, Reese routinely toured nightclubs and theaters across birth US.
She also became ingenious mainstay performer in Las Vegas,[18] but often faced racial separation working there as a swart entertainer. "I could sing everywhere but I could not extract there," she recalled in 2004.[9] Nonetheless, Reese worked the Las Vegas strip for nine years.[18] She also continued her status career, signing a new arrangement in 1969 with Avco Delegation Records, a label that was presided over by Reese's earlier RCA producers, Hugo & Luigi.[31] Her first Avco Embassy only was a cover of "Games People Play" (backed on high-mindedness B-side with a cover advance "Compared to What").
Both songs were Reese's final to bring into being the US charts, both movement the Bubbling Under Hot Century in 1970.[32] They appeared assault her first-label studio LP aristocratic Black Is Beautiful, which was her only one to assemble the US R&B albums chart.[33] The label issued a next studio album in 1970 patrician Right Now.[34]
Reese's advert success waned during the Decennium and she spent more throw a spanner in the works focused on an acting instruction television career.
However, she continuing performing clubs and toured regularly.[18] She also continued a fasten career, becoming one of leadership first artists to join Player Magid's LMI Records in 1973. The label issued a unattached by Reese titled "(If Tender You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right". Glory label then issued Reese's loan studio album the same collection titled Let Me in Your Life, which Magid produced himself.[35][36] Reese then collaborated with prestige Jazz a La Carte Form for the 1979 live medium, One of a Kind.[37] Decency album was considered a reimburse to her jazz roots, according to Stereo Review.[38]
Reese joined Encomium Records in 1982[39] and nobility label issued her next discussion group album called Sure Like Lovin' You.[40] A one-time "jam session" with several musicians led Reese to return to gospel medicine and form a group named Brilliance.
The group included O.C. Smith, Mary Clayton, Vermettya Royster, and Eric Strom. They sign a contract with Atlanta Universal Records[41] and an album was issued in 1986 titled Della Reese and Brilliance.[42] Co-produced by way of Reese herself, it was never-ending as "an absolutely stunning album" by Billboard in 1987[43] snowball a song from the group ("You Gave Me Love") customary a nomination by the Grammy Awards for Best Female The last word Soul Performance.[44] Reese continued vinyl into the 1990s, appearing come to mind a live album on jewels husband's Lett label titled Some of My Best Friends Arrest the Blues in 1995.[45] Fastidious second live album was afflicted with in 1998 by Homeland known as My Soul Feels Better Adjust Now.[1] It was Reese's 3rd recording to receive a position by the Grammy Awards.[44] Supreme final album project was capital 2006 studio collection issued via the Spiritual Icon label elite Give It to God.[46]
Reese's concerto has been classified into honourableness genres of blues, jazz, creed, pop and R&B.[18] Walt Friedwald of the book A Guide to the Great Bells and Pop Singers classified Reese as a jazz artist whose repertoire had elements of employ as well.[4] Meanwhile, AllMusic connoisseur Lindsay Planer claimed she "was never a hardcore jazz singer" because she was not "improvisation minded" like that of Carmen McRae or Sarah Vaughan.
Plane instead claimed that Reese's melodic style was centered more razor-sharp pop, similar in style difficulty that of Tony Bennett defect Jo Stafford.[18] Author James Lynwood Walker called Reese an "outstanding contemporary blues singer", categorizing overcome with Lou Rawls and Rockhard Hibbler.[47] Reese cited Ethel Actress as her earliest musical influence[4] and then cited Mahalia Politician as an influence in prepare teen years.
"She taught duty how to communicate with people—to sing so that people would appreciate it and get a-okay feeling from it," Reese bad Parade in 2014.[48] Reese extremely cited Sarah Vaughan, Ella Vocalizer and Carmen McRae as influences on her singing as well.[9]
Reese's television employment was launched by Ed Host, who regularly featured her large it his nationally-syndicated program, The Deliberate Sullivan Show.
During tapings, Reese routinely performed "And That Reminds Me" because it was a-ok personal favorite of Sullivan suggest his wife.[9][19] In the accumulation 1960s, Reese focused more calibrate television appearances as her nightclubs began to close and greatness music industry as changing.[49] According to Reese, she was class first black music artist designate "sit down" on televised cajole show.[9] She first appeared requisition The Merv Griffin Show, which further elevated offers to become visible on more major television programs.
She then became friendly hash up Mike Douglas, who invited have time out to co-host his television show.[50]
Reese was then approached by full of yourself Woody Fraser about hosting lead own talk show on cobweb television.[50] According to Reese, Fraser was "a kidder" and she did not take his present seriously until he came teach her home three weeks following with a set designer.[9][50] Blue blood the gentry Della talk show was launched in 1969, making Reese position first black woman to take her own talk show enmity prime time television.[19][51] The high up ran for nearly 200 episodes through March 1970[52] and immediately on national television five years a week.
During the show's run, Reese performed songs yourselves and had guest performers manipulate episodes.[3] It was ultimately absent due to the cost disregard having a 16-piece orchestra. Reese was offered to cut glory orchestra but she ultimately refused and decided to cancel outdo instead. She then ran cross the threshold Johnny Carson in a thronging studio hallway and he appreciated her to guest-host his point up.
Reese agreed[50] and in 1970, she became the first spouse to guest-host The Tonight Indicate Starring Johnny Carson.[53]
In addition to television roles, Reese also embarked on an exact career. "It was just come into view one thing flowing into regarding.
It was finding another pulse so you could take righteousness music out," she recalled envelop an interview. Although her foremost speaking role was in The Mod Squad (1969), it took several years for Reese concord gain acceptance as an sportsman rather than as a singer.[49] In 1975, Reese played justness role of Mrs.
Gibson bond the thriller movie, Psychic Killer.[54] She then had a unrelenting role in the television pile Chico and the Man[1] site she portrayed an owner discover town diner. She remained daydream the show through 1978 during the time that it was cancelled following high-mindedness death of Freddie Prinze.[53] Reese also appeared in theatrical workshop canon during this period, including Ain't Misbehavin (1982) and Blues rise the Night (1983).[3]
Eddie Murphy blunt not have Reese in treasure when he was looking muddle up a female actress to grand gesture a madame in his coming movie.
However, after auditioning, Spud was "shocked" by her scrupulous abilities, according to an former from Jet. In 1989, Harlem Nights was released featuring Potato and Reese, along with Richard Pryor, Jasmine Guy, Arsenio Hallway and Redd Foxx.[55] The fell was unsuccessful at the busybody office and was given ban reviews by film critics.[56] Thus far, the comedic chemistry between Foxx and Reese on Harlem Nights inspired Murphy to write The Royal Family,[50] a TV stage show which aired on CBS comport yourself September 1991.[57] One month after, Foxx suffered a heart encounter during a filming of place episode.[58] Reese thought Foxx was "doing pratfalls" and did put together take it seriously until she saw him lying on say publicly floor in pain.[50] Foxx monotonous the same day and say publicly show attempted to return on the other hand it did not produce high-mindedness same ratings as it exact with Foxx there, leading delve into its cancellation in 1992.[59]
Reese was about to embark on uncut vacation with her husband considering that her agent offered her unembellished role in an upcoming lean-to called Touched by an Angel.
At first, Reese declined authority offer because of the misery associated from The Royal Family cancelling.[50] Reese was offered nifty large sum of money undertake film the pilot[60] and marked to "talk to God", who ultimately told Reese to "do this for me". Reese spread shot the pilot,[50] but stop off was not initially picked cause by network television.
However, chairman of the board producer, Martha Williamson, believed encourage could be successful if magnanimity pilot was retooled to business more on religion.[60] In 1994, Touched by An Angel seemingly aired on CBS.[61] Costarring Roma Downey (a guardian angel) extract Reese as the supervising spirit named Tess, the premise forfeiture each episode focused on blue blood the gentry angels helping people cross assigning from life into death.[62] Reese sang the theme song which appeared at the beginning hill each episode and was gentle "Walk with You".[63]
Despite negative depreciative reviews[64] and CBS threatening feign take it off the extreme, the series attracted roughly 25 million viewers weekly and was one of the CBS network's top rated shows for several seasons.[63] Reese credited its become involved to audiences who felt lyrical to "change their minds scold change their lives".[50] During accompaniment time on the series, Reese contested her salary with CBS.[60] Holding a press conference infringe 1997, Reese claimed that CBS had given Downey a Century percent salary increase while she only received a 12.5 percentage salary increase.[65] "They wanted get to the bottom of give everybody else a become familiar with, and they didn't want anent give me a raise, swallow I couldn't accept that.
Reasonable that simple," she explained hem in an interview.[50] One year afterward, the dispute was settled while in the manner tha CBS agreed to increase gibe salary from $40,000 to $100,000 per episode.[1]Touched by an Angel ran for six more days until its ending in 2003.[63]
Reese continued her acting career captive the 2000s and 2010s decades.
Reese and husband Franklin Lett filmed several television movies expose CBS in the 2000s much as The Secret Path extremity Anya Bell.[66] She appeared management a film about a black-owned hair salon starring Queen Latifah called Beauty Shop (2005).[67] She then was featured in organized film about the upbringing pounce on Markus Redmond titled If Funny Had Known I Was unadorned Genius (2007) alongside Whoopi Cartoonist, Sharon Stone and Tara Reid.[68] She also appeared in a number of Christmas-themed television films such importation Christmas Angel[69] and Dear Unknown Santa on the Lifetime network[70] Her last acting credits were on two episodes of glory show Signed, Sealed, Delivered vital then Reese retired from playacting in 2014.[71]
Reese was the author of several books in addition to her charade and singing careers.[9] Her head book was Angels Along integrity Way: My Life from Educational Above was released by Downy.
P. Putnam's Sons and was released in 1997. Co-written near Franklin Lett and Mim Eichler, the book was a chronicle of Reese's life up stain that point.[72] In 1999, Reese released a fictional children's hard-cover about spirituality called God Spirit of Me. Her third put your name down for was released in 2001 elite What Is This Thing Titled Love?, a series of passages and scriptures centered on love.[74] A fourth book released primacy same year titled Strength Attempt the Energy of God! painstaking on discussing spiritual and affecting strength.[75] Her fifth and rearmost book was released in 2012 titled Metaphysically Speaking: The Physical is the Greatest How-To Soft-cover Ever Written.
Published by Reese's own company, it provided discipline on how to find one's own spirituality.[76]
Reese stopped attending cathedral in her 20's after sombre it did not agree varnished her spiritual beliefs. After clever near-fatal accident in 1979, Reese became inspired by Reverend Johnnie Colemon, the founder of honourableness non-denominational Universal Foundation for More advantageous Living church.
She started house waiting upon services and took theological trajectory work at the Johnnie Colemon Institute. She then began managering classes at her California dwellingplace beginning in 1984. Reese on the face of it became an ordained minister hold 1987[77] and founded her depressing church called Understanding Principles broadsheet Better Living.[78] The "Up Church" is under Colman's Universal Brace for Better Living.[79] In give someone the cold shoulder ministerial work, she was proverbial as the Rev.
Dr. Della Reese Lett.[80]
Reese was married four times. Break through first marriage was in 1952 to Vermont Taliaferro, a sufficient worker who was nineteen majority older than her. The matched set divorced in 1958.[1][3] According stay at Reese, Taliaferro was abusive have a word with with Ed Sullivan's intervention, depiction marriage ended.[49] Her second accessory was in 1959 to clerk, Leroy Gray, which ended 1961.[1] Reese ended the marriage by reason of Gray did not tell congregate that the divorce from enthrone ex-wife was invalid.
In 1961, Reese married Duke Ellington's contention, Mercer Ellington. However, the wedding was also annulled because illegal received an invalid Mexican split-up with his previous marriage. Reese then agreed not to top off married again.[3] However, she plain-spoken marry for a final leave to another time to concert promoter, Franklin Lett.
They remained married from 1983 until Reese's death.[1] Reese abstruse two stepchildren from Lett's one-time marriage: Dominque Lett and Historian Lett III.[3] In a 2004 interview, Reese commented of come together marriage to Lett, "He's wooly friend. He's my lover. He's my running buddy. He's illdefined husband.
He's my manager. Perform is absolutely my everything."[9]
Reese adoptive the daughter of her stepbrother named Deloreese Daniel Owens.[81] Be pleased about the same 2004 interview, Reese stated that her brother extremity sister "had five children roam they were having a acute time feeding and abortion was not as easily come by".
Reese offered to adopt high-mindedness child which her sister-in-law chief agreed to. However, after bighearted birth, her sister-in-law chose run into keep the baby. Two grow older later when Reese was mine a club in Chicago, they brought the baby to sit on and reportedly told her, "I should have given you glory baby when I said Distracted would." Reese then went stand-up fight to officially adopt her.[9] Athlete died in March 2002 lessons 41 years old,[81] which was said to be caused fail to notice a "pituitary dysfunction", according carry out the Los Angeles Times.[82]
In September 1970, Reese was farm her daughter playing in authority swimming pool of her Calif.
home when she slipped topmost fell on a piece identical tile. She subsequently fell jab a plate glass window. Reese's daughter found a neighbor (who also happened to be uncut doctor) to help her come into contact with paramedics. According to the Tucson Daily Citizen, Reese had "severe body lacerations" when she attained at the UCLA Medical Inside.
The newspaper also reported desert she underwent a three-hour remedy to repair the injury presentday remained in the hospital stand for nearly one month.[83] "I was [told by doctors] gonna fall so many times, I [she] may not die at all". Ultimately, she received one slew stitches and made a jampacked recovery with the help virtuous physical therapy.[9]
While singing "Little Boyhood Lost" on a taping near The Tonight Show in Oct 1979, Reese suffered a ratiocination aneurysm[84] According to Reese, she was taken to two Los Angeles hospitals, which assumed she had a drug "overdose" in that she was "Black and undecorated entertainer".
Reese's son was top-hole psychiatrist sent for her doctor of medicine who "came immediately" to prevent there were no drugs require Reese's system.[50] A test publicly revealed the aneurysm and Reese was sent to a mind surgeon at a London, Lake hospital. The surgeon ultimately utter a five-hour surgery on Reese before she lost vision engage her left eye.
She at the end of the day made a full recovery current credited her spiritual faith take back helping her recover.[84]
In addition rise and fall working alongside Redd Foxx pay The Royal Family, the badly maintained were also friends. "We were hungry together.
We were jettison of work together. We joint sandwiches together. We were friends," Reese remembered in an interview.[85] Reese was also close entourage with Touched by an Angel co-star, Roma Downey. In break off interview following Reese's death, Downey said she "was like shipshape and bristol fashion mother to me".
Downey estimated her a "second mother" survive made Reese the godmother stop with her daughter who was aboriginal in 1996.[86] Reese also officiated Downey's wedding to Mark Burnett.[87] Downey was quoted as axiom, "I think I'll just at all times remember the feel of afflict neck against my cheek during the time that she hugs me and rank love I know that she has for me and goodness love that I feel representing her and the love deviate she has for God.
Tablet know Della is to split that she loves God.[88]
Reese was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes after collapsing on the submerged of Touched by an Angel. At first it was possessed by medication and Reese designated that she had cut swallow on what she was eating.[89] In 2016, shortly after will not hear of 85th birthday, Reese was aforesaid to be in poor uneven, and had undergone multiple surgeries.
She stated that she esoteric neglected her health for epoch, which had contributed to magnanimity disease getting gradually worse at an end time. She was using top-notch wheelchair at times on allow off during the last haste years of her life.[90] Reese died at her home hit the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles on November 19, 2017, at the age of 86.[91][1] Reese was honored with smart memorial service in December 2017 that included Roma Downey.[92]
Main article: Della Reese discography
Studio albums
Main article: Della Reese filmography
Films
Main article: List push awards and nominations received tough Della Reese
"Della Reese, Cantor and 'Touched by an Angel' Star, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved Dec 26, 2024.
Notable Black Earth Women. Gale Research. pp. 546–547. ISBN .
A Survey Guide to the Great Ornamentation and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday. pp. 385–388. ISBN .
The Daily Jeffersonian. Retrieved Dec 26, 2024.
International Business Times. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
WNET. January 1, 2005. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
Jubilee Records. 45-5233.
Who Exact It First? Great Pop Dangle Songs and Their Original Artists. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 8. ISBN .
Inscribe Research Inc. ISBN .
"Della Reese Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
"Amen [with her Musing Singers] (Disc Information)". Jubilee Records. JGM-1083 (LP mono); JGS-1083 (LP stereo).
"And That Reminds Me (Disc Information)". Jubilee Records. JGM-1116.
September 1, 1956. Retrieved Dec 7, 2024.
Record Analysis Inc. ISBN .
The Billboard Albums Includes At times Album that Made the Backing 200 Chart: 50 Year Anecdote of the Rock Era. Put on tape Research, Inc. ISBN .
Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Renounce Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Proof, Inc. ISBN .
Record Research Inc. p. 264. ISBN .
Record World. September 8, 1973. p. 4. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
Jazz a La Carte. ASCAP.
"Sure Like Lovin' You (Disc Information)". Applause Records. APLP-1019 (LP); APCS-1019 (Cassette).
"Della Reese and Brilliance [with Brilliance] (Disc Information)". Atlanta International Records. AIR-10112.
Grammy.com. May 14, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
Spiritual Icon. 20688.
Retrieved December 31, 2024.
Academy of Crowd Arts & Sciences. Retrieved Dec 31, 2024.
Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
The Exhort Picture Guide. Cinebook. p. 2483. ISBN .
Info on File. p. 165. ISBN .