Hazel Scott
A virtuoso pianist who shattered racial barriers in Hollywood and used her stardom to demand dignity for Black performers on screen.
1920–1981 (age 61)·American pianist and singer·Birthday: June 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born in Trinidad and raised in Harlem, Hazel Scott was a child prodigy who, by her teens, was dazzling audiences with a revolutionary style that fused classical rigor with jazz improvisation. Her talent became a weapon against prejudice. In the 1940s, she became the first Black American to host her own nationally syndicated television show, 'The Hazel Scott Show,' a platform she used to present an image of Black artistry that was sophisticated and uncompromising. Scott's Hollywood career was brief but seismic; she insisted on final cut over her musical performances and refused to play stereotypical roles, a stance that eventually led to her being blacklisted during the McCarthy era. She spent her later years performing in nightclubs and remained, until her death, a symbol of artistic integrity and fearless activism.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Hazel was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hazel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
Hazel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1981Died at 61
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
Key Achievements
- Became the first Black American to host her own national television show in 1950.
- Successfully negotiated a clause in her Hollywood contracts stipulating she would never play a maid or other demeaning roles.
- Performed a groundbreaking solo piano concert at Carnegie Hall at the age of 25.
- Used her popularity to challenge studio segregation policies for film extras.
Did You Know?
She was accepted to the Juilliard School at the age of eight, one of the youngest students ever admitted at the time.
She was married to prominent New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. for 13 years.
She publicly defied the House Un-American Activities Committee, delivering a stirring statement before walking out.
Her signature performance style involved playing two grand pianos simultaneously.
“Why would anyone want to bury me? I'm at the peak of my career.”
