Moten, Etta

▪ 2005

Etta Moten Barnett 

      American actress and singer (b. Nov. 5, 1901, Weimar, Texas—d. Jan. 2, 2004, Chicago, Ill.), was best remembered for her powerful singing performances in two 1933 films—Gold Diggers of 1933, with her emotional rendition of “Remember My Forgotten Man,” and Flying Down to Rio, with her joyous “Carioca”—and for becoming (1934) the first African American woman to perform at the White House. She was also a pioneer in dubbing the singing voices of nonsinging film stars. Moten took over the role of Bess in a Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess in 1942 and remained in it, on Broadway and on the road, until 1945. In later years she represented the U.S. at ceremonies in Africa and was active in civic organizations.

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