DAMITA JO

Damita Jo DeBlanc, attended college at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, TX as wells as in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California where she was raised.

Damita and Ella Fitzgerald had what is called "A Mutual Admiration Society."

Miss Fitzgerald had long been her idol.  And when Miss Fitz, "The First Lady of Song", was asked on a Las Vegas television show to name "The Second Lady of Song," she unhesitatingly answered - DAMITA JO.

Damita Jo appeared in the first two Atlantic City Jazz Festivals - 1979 and 1980.  At both Festivals, her performances received standing ovations.  She had numerous appearances at the Atlantic City's famed Club Harlem with the then Larry Steele Revue.  She shared billings with Johnnie Ray and the Lionel Hampton Band, performed with Count Basie and Ray Charles. 

She was a repeat performer for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) marking four appearances before the group in a five year period.

Her television credits include more than twenty (20) appearances on the Mike Douglas and Tonight Shows.   She appeared several times on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Among her other TV credits are the following:  Perry Como, Al Hirt, Merv Griffing, Steve Allen, Della Reese, and Vic Damone. 

Damita was the featured singer on the Gene Kelly Special, "New York, New York", along with Gower Champion and Woody Allen.

Radio-wise, in addition to her many recordings, Damita was a frequent guest on the Arthur Godfrey Radio Show.

DAMITA JO  wrote and recorded a song entitled, "The Color Of Your Skin Makes No Difference" due to her concern about racial tensions in Baltimore.  This song has been taught and sung in the public schools and churches of Baltimore.

More than fifty (50) women have been named for Damita.  The most prominent of this group is singing star, Janet Damita Jo Jackson, so named after her mother's (Cahterine Jackson), favorite jazz singer.