Burlesque star Lottie Graves-Claiborne, better known as "Lottie the Body," recently died in Detroit on Feb. 29 at the age of 90. Not only was she known for her mesmerizing burlesque, she was also known for fearlessly crossing racial lines at a time when Black people were denied access to the spaces around them, and entertainers of color were told to enter venues through the back door. Her popularity granted her access to perform throughout Detroit and across the United States. She accompanied stars like Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, Sammy Davis Jr., Redd Foxx, and other notables onstage, and her brand of sensuality took her to Michigan nightclubs like the 20 Grand, the Brass Rail, and a Las Vegas-style show in Idlewild, Michigan, which was known as the "Black Eden." *metrotimes.com I will post more on Lottie soon. #burlesque #blackburlesque #burlesqueperformer #pioneer #legend #burlesquelegend #blackburlesqueperformer #blackpinup #history #dancer https://www.instagram.com/p/B9nIDMBl_hp/?igshid=1607up5to6gqf
