Amanda .E. Randolph
(September 2, 1896 – August 24, 1967)
She was a pioneering American entertainer whose career spanned music, theater, film, radio, and early television. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, into a family that valued education and faith, she developed her artistic abilities at a young age and began working as a musician in her teens. By her early career, she was performing professionally as a pianist and organist, later expanding into singing and acting.
Randolph first gained recognition in the music industry during the late 1910s and early 1920s, when she recorded rare piano rolls and jazz-blues pieces—making her one of the earliest documented Black female recording pianists. She also composed music and recorded songs such as “Cootie Crawl” and “I Got Another Lovin’ Daddy,” and later led her own ensemble, releasing multiple recordings with Bluebird Records in 1936, including “Please Don’t Talk About My Man,” “Doin’ the Suzie-Q,” and “For Sentimental Reasons.”
Her stage career flourished in the 1920s, where she performed in major musical productions including Shuffle Along, Lucky Sambo, and The Chocolate Dandies. She toured internationally and became a versatile performer across vaudeville, burlesque, and theater. In addition to performing, she worked as a comedian and vocalist, establishing herself as a dynamic presence in live entertainment.
Transitioning into film and broadcasting in the 1930s and 1940s, Randolph appeared in early African American cinema, including productions by pioneering filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. She also built a strong radio career, performing on popular programs such as Young Dr. Malone, Romance of Helen Trent, and Big Sister. Her voice work extended into animation, where she voiced characters like Petunia in the Little Audrey cartoons.
Randolph made history in television as one of the first Black women to achieve national visibility. She became the first African American performer to star in a regularly scheduled network television program, appearing in The Laytons in 1948. She further broke ground with her own daytime television show, Amanda, making her one of the earliest Black women to host a television program. She later gained widespread recognition for her role as Ramona Smith on The Amos ’n’ Andy Show and went on to star in The Beulah Show, continuing to expand representation for Black performers on screen.
Throughout her career, Randolph also pursued entrepreneurial ventures, including operating restaurants in New York and Los Angeles that became popular within the entertainment community.
Achievements & Records
- One of the first recorded Black female pianists through early piano rolls
- Released multiple jazz and blues recordings in the 1920s–1930s
- Led her own band and recorded commercially successful tracks
- Performed in major Broadway and touring musical productions
- Starred in early African American films and radio programs
- Became the first Black performer to star in a network TV show
- Hosted one of the first daytime television programs by a Black woman
- Established a lasting presence in television comedy and drama
Legacy
Amanda E. Randolph’s legacy is defined by her groundbreaking contributions across multiple entertainment platforms at a time when opportunities for Black performers were extremely limited. She helped open doors in radio and television, setting precedents for future generations of African American actors, musicians, and broadcasters. Her ability to move seamlessly between music, stage, and screen demonstrated both versatility and resilience, making her a foundational figure in early American entertainment history.
Death
Randolph passed away on August 24, 1967, in Duarte, California, at the age of 70.
- Cause of death: Stroke