Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan), is a famous African American actress and singer.

Reese, a Christian, began singing at the age of six. She would later join famous gospel singer Mahalia Jackson as a back-up singer. While a student at Wayne State University she formed and perfromed with a gospel group, the Meditation Singers. After her parents' deaths Reese left university. While continuing to perform with the Meditation Singers she also performed in night clubs, notably the famous Flame Showbar, where as both a hostess and singer she heard some of the premier jazz artists of the day. She had by then married Vermont Taliaferro, and her married name was too long to fit on marquees, so she adopted a modification of her first name as a stage name.

In 1953, after signing with a New York City agent, she joined the Erskine Hawkins orchestra, and a year later signed a recording contract with Jubilee Records . Her biggest hits for Jubilee, both million-sellers, were "And That Reminds me" and "Don't You Know?" Her success on record led to a successful performing career, including nine years performing in Las Vegas.

In 1969, she was given her first shot at television stardom, when she starred on the Della show, hosting the program. In the same year, she became the first black woman to serve as guest host of The Tonight Show.

In 1973, she had her first acting experience, in The Voyage of the Yes , as Opal. Four more acting jobs preceded her participation in Chico and the Man. where she played Della Rogers from 1976 to 1978. In 1979, she played Ms. Lydia Branch in the critically acclaimed miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. Later in 1979, while taping a song for The Tonight Show, she suffered a nearly fatal brain aneurysm, but made a full recovery after two operations by noted neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Drake at University Hospital in London, Ontario.

Reese did voice overs from 1988 to 1991 in the A Pup Named Scooby Doo television cartoon. In 1989, she starred alongside Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Arsenio Hall and Robin Givens in the movie Harlem Nights.

In 1994, she began participating in the television hit Touched by an Angel, where she plays Tess. Della Reese sang the show's theme song. Her participation in this series has given her popularity among the younger audiences as well. She has had a number of other acting jobs since that series began.

Della Reese announced, on Larry King's show in 2002, that she suffers from Type-2 Diabetes. She is a spokeswoman of the American Diabetes Association, travelling around the United States to raise awareness about the disease.

In 1983, she married Thomas Lett Jr. , to whom she is still married. In 1987, she was nominated for an Emmy as a gospel singer.

External link

• Understanding Principles for Better Living Church