Loletha Elayne Falana or Loletha Elaine Falana (sources differ) (born
September , ), better known by her stage name Lola Falana, is an
American singer, dancer, model and actress.Lola Falana was born in
Camden, New Jersey. She was the third of six children born to Bennett,
a welder and Cleo Falana, a seamstress (â€"). Lola Falana's father, an
Afro-Cuban, left his homeland of Cuba to serve in the U.S. Marine
Corps, later becoming a welder shortly after meeting Falana's mother
who was African-American. By the age of three Lola Falana was dancing,
and by age five she was singing in the church choir. In , Lola
Falana's family which by this time included two more siblings, moved
to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By the time she was in junior high
school, Falana was already dancing in nightclubs to which she was
escorted by her mother. Pursuing a musical career became so important
to her that, against her parents' wishes, she dropped out of
Germantown High School a few months before graduation and moved to New
York City.In , Lola Falana's first dancing gig was at age sixteen
during a Dinah Washington nightclub appearance in Philadelphia in
which Washington gave her the opening act slot to perform. Washington,
dubbed the "Queen of Blues", was influential in fostering Falana's
early career. While dancing in a chorus line in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, Falana was discovered by Sammy Davis Jr., who gave her a
featured role in his Broadway musical Golden Boy. After the musical,
Falana launched her music career later in . Her first single, "My
Baby", was recorded and released for Mercury Records in . Later in her
career, she recorded under Frank Sinatra's record label. In the late
s, Falana was mentored by Sammy Davis, Jr.
September , ), better known by her stage name Lola Falana, is an
American singer, dancer, model and actress.Lola Falana was born in
Camden, New Jersey. She was the third of six children born to Bennett,
a welder and Cleo Falana, a seamstress (â€"). Lola Falana's father, an
Afro-Cuban, left his homeland of Cuba to serve in the U.S. Marine
Corps, later becoming a welder shortly after meeting Falana's mother
who was African-American. By the age of three Lola Falana was dancing,
and by age five she was singing in the church choir. In , Lola
Falana's family which by this time included two more siblings, moved
to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By the time she was in junior high
school, Falana was already dancing in nightclubs to which she was
escorted by her mother. Pursuing a musical career became so important
to her that, against her parents' wishes, she dropped out of
Germantown High School a few months before graduation and moved to New
York City.In , Lola Falana's first dancing gig was at age sixteen
during a Dinah Washington nightclub appearance in Philadelphia in
which Washington gave her the opening act slot to perform. Washington,
dubbed the "Queen of Blues", was influential in fostering Falana's
early career. While dancing in a chorus line in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, Falana was discovered by Sammy Davis Jr., who gave her a
featured role in his Broadway musical Golden Boy. After the musical,
Falana launched her music career later in . Her first single, "My
Baby", was recorded and released for Mercury Records in . Later in her
career, she recorded under Frank Sinatra's record label. In the late
s, Falana was mentored by Sammy Davis, Jr.
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