# Frances Taylor Davis > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Frances_Taylor_Davis > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Frances_Taylor_Davis.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Taylor_Davis > Source revision: 1356073904 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American dancer, ballerina, and actress (1929–2018)}} {{Infobox person | name = Frances Taylor Davis | image = File:Swing-Journal-1965-January-1.jpg | alt = Frances Taylor in 1964, with her husband, Miles Davis | caption = Taylor Davis in 1964, with her husband, Miles (Swing Journal, January 1965) | birth_name = Frances Elizabeth Taylor | birth_date = September 28, 1929 | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|11|17|1929|9|28}} | other_names = {{csv|Elizabeth Taylor (on Broadway)|Frances Davis}} | occupation = {{csv|Dancer|choreographer|actress}} | known_for = First black ballerina in the [Paris Opera Ballet](/source/Paris_Opera_Ballet) | spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Jean-Marie Durand|1955|reason=divorced}}|{{marriage|[Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis)|1959|1968}}}} }} '''Frances Taylor Davis''' (September 28, 1929 – November 17, 2018) was an American dancer and actress who was a member of the [Katherine Dunham Company](/source/Katherine_Dunham_Company), and the first African American [ballerina](/source/Ballet_dancer) to perform with the [Paris Opera Ballet](/source/Paris_Opera_Ballet). Credited as '''Elizabeth Taylor''', she had roles in the [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) musicals [''Mr. Wonderful''](/source/Mr._Wonderful_(musical)), ''[Shinbone Alley](/source/Shinbone_Alley)'', and was an original cast member of ''[West Side Story](/source/West_Side_Story)''.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/frances-taylor-davis-first-wife-miles-davis-dies/|title=Frances Taylor Davis, First Wife Of Miles Davis, Has Died|last=Rogo|first=Paula|date=November 18, 2018|website=Essence|language=en-US}} Taylor also appeared in the [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway) productions of ''[Carmen Jones](/source/Carmen_Jones)'' and ''[Porgy and Bess](/source/Porgy_and_Bess)''.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b-5GoNQzsbQC&q=Porgy+and+Bess+frances+taylor+city+center&pg=PA199|title=Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music|last=Crease|first=Stephanie Stein|publisher=Chicago Review Press|year=2003|isbn=978-1-55652-986-3|pages=199|language=en}} At the peak of her career, she left Broadway to marry [jazz](/source/jazz) musician [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis). == Life and career == === Early life === Taylor was born on September 28, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in the [Rosenwald Courts](/source/Rosenwald_Courts) in Chicago. Her father worked at the post office. She began dancing classical ballet at age 8, and by age 16 was performing ''[Swan Lake](/source/Swan_Lake)''.{{cite magazine |last=Mitchell |first=Gail |date=May 26, 2001 |title=Wife and Muse, Frances Davis Recalls Life with Miles |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-05-26.pdf |magazine=Billboard |volume=113 |issue=21 |page=68 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |via=World Radio History}} Her instructor encouraged her to audition for the [Edna McRae](/source/Edna_L._McRae) School of the Dance, where she became the only [African American](/source/African_Americans) student. While attending the school, Taylor met dancer and choreographer [Katherine Dunham](/source/Katherine_Dunham) who offered her a scholarship to study dance with the [Katherine Dunham Company](/source/Katherine_Dunham_Company).{{Cite journal|date=April 3, 1952|title=Chicagoan May Dance With Famed Ballet Soon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J0MDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+taylor+ballet&pg=PA34|journal=Jet|volume=1|issue=23|pages=34–35}} Taylor finished high school, then briefly attended college but decided to pursue a dancing career instead. === Career === Taylor joined the Katherine Dunham Company, where she was taught by [Walter Nicks](/source/Walter_Nicks). She trained and toured extensively with the dance company in Europe and South America. thumb|Frances Taylor is wearing a tutu dress and dancing en pointe with Max Bozzoni, star of the Paris Opera Ballet, on 4 December 1951 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées In December 1951, Taylor was recruited for a special presentation with the [Paris Opera Ballet](/source/Paris_Opera_Ballet), becoming the first African-American to perform with the ballet company.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Frances Taylor was the first Black dancer to perform with the Paris Opera Ballet |url=https://vegebon.wordpress.com/2023/04/22/frances-taylor-first-black-dancer-paris-opera-ballet/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Végébon |language=fr-FR}} She received rave reviews from the press for her performances in Paris and was compared to French ballet dancer [Leslie Caron](/source/Leslie_Caron).{{Cite journal|date=November 15, 1951|title=Young Dancer Thrills In Paris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IkMDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+porgy+and+bess&pg=PA31|journal=Jet|volume=1|issue=3|pages=31}} She performed with [Benny Goodman](/source/Benny_Goodman) at the [London Palladium](/source/London_Palladium). While in London, Taylor rehearsed with [Sadler's Wells Ballet](/source/The_Royal_Ballet). In 1953, Taylor was asked by [Sammy Davis Jr.](/source/Sammy_Davis_Jr.) to appear as his girlfriend in the ill-fated [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) TV show ''Three for the Road – with the [Will Mastin Trio](/source/Will_Mastin_Trio)''.{{Cite journal|date=October 15, 1953|title=New York Beat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet&pg=PA65|journal=Jet|volume=4|issue=23|pages=65}} She and Davis had met at [Ciro's](/source/Ciro's) nightclub where she was performing with the Dunham troupe. ''Three for the Road'' was about struggling musicians, and avoided the stereotypical portrayals of African-Americans common during that era. The cast included actresses [Ruth Attaway](/source/Ruth_Attaway) and [Jane White](/source/Jane_White), as well as [Frederick O'Neal](/source/Frederick_O'Neal) who founded the [American Negro Theater](/source/American_Negro_Theater). A pilot was filmed in the fall of 1953,{{Cite journal|date=October 29, 1953|title=Sammy Davis To Start On TV Show Nov. 26|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rEIDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+taylor+jet+1954&pg=PA59|journal=Jet|volume=4|issue=25|pages=59}} but the show was postponed and eventually dropped when ABC was unable to get a sponsor.{{Cite journal|date=February 25, 1954|title=Her TV Debut Delayed Again|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CsADAAAAMBAJ|journal=Jet|volume=5|issue=16|pages=34}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/inblackwhitelife00haygo/page/148|title=In Black and White: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr.|last=Haygood|first=Wil|publisher=New York : A.A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House|year=2003|isbn=9780375403545|pages=[https://archive.org/details/inblackwhitelife00haygo/page/148 148-149, 328]}} In 1954, Taylor rejoined the Dunham troupe as a lead dancer for engagements in Rome{{Cite journal|date=April 1, 1954|title=Dancer Frances Taylor Rejoins Dance Troupe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMADAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet&pg=PA60|journal=Jet|volume=5|issue=21|pages=60}} but later relocated to New York City so she could act on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre). She was credited as Elizabeth Taylor (using her middle name) because there was already an actress named Frances Taylor. [[File:I Feel Pretty from West Side Story 1957.JPG|thumb|Performing as Francisca (left) in the song ["I Feel Pretty"](/source/I_Feel_Pretty) for the original 1957 Broadway production of [''West Side Story''](/source/West_Side_Story_(Original_Broadway_Cast))]] Taylor appeared in [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway) productions of ''[Porgy and Bess](/source/Porgy_and_Bess)'' and ''[Carmen Jones](/source/Carmen_Jones)'' at [New York City Center](/source/New_York_City_Center). She also appeared in three Broadway musicals: [''Mr. Wonderful''](/source/Mr._Wonderful_(musical)), ''[Shinbone Alley](/source/Shinbone_Alley)'', and, notably, [''West Side Story''](/source/West_Side_Story_(Original_Broadway_Cast)). On ''West Side Story'''s opening night in September 1957, Taylor received the company's "gypsy robe" for being the outstanding dancer in the cast.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qDl3zKlMNbQC&q=carmen+jones|title=So What: The Life of Miles Davis|last=Szwed|first=John F.|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=2004|isbn=0-684-85982-3|location=New York|pages=147|oclc=50123549}} ''[Jet](/source/Jet_(magazine))'' magazine reported in April 1958 that Taylor quit the production to pursue a singing-dancing career,{{Cite journal|date=April 17, 1958|title=New York Beat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ELcDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet&pg=PA64|journal=Jet|volume=13|issue=24|pages=64}} but she later revealed that she was dating jazz musician [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis) who forced her to quit in March 1958.{{Cite news|last=Broeske|first=Pat H.|date=November 21, 2006|title=Grappling with the cool and rage of Miles Davis - Culture - International Herald Tribune (Published 2006)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/arts/21iht-miles.3611591.html|access-date=2020-12-14|issn=0362-4331}} According to Taylor, Davis said "A woman should be with her man. I want you out of ''West Side Story.''" Davis allowed Taylor to conduct dancing classes for a while in 1959. Her students included Julie Robinson, a Dunham trouper and wife of actor [Harry Belafonte](/source/Harry_Belafonte), and [Edna Mae Robinson](/source/Edna_Mae_Robinson), a [chorus line](/source/chorus_line) dancer and wife of boxer [Sugar Ray Robinson](/source/Sugar_Ray_Robinson).{{Cite journal|date=April 30, 1959|title=Ex-Pros Get A Lesson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUEDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet+1959&pg=PA31|journal=Jet|volume=16|issue=1|pages=31}} When Davis married Taylor in December 1959, he not only insisted that she quit ''West Side Story'', but hampered her career in other ways. Choreographer [Jerome Robbins](/source/Jerome_Robbins), whom Taylor had worked with in ''West Side Story'' on Broadway, asked Davis if she could appear in the film ''[West Side Story](/source/West_Side_Story_(1961_film))'' (1961); Davis refused. Sammy Davis Jr. approached Davis about Taylor appearing in the musical ''[Golden Boy](/source/Golden_Boy_(musical))'' (1964); Davis refused again. Following her split from Davis in 1965, Taylor taught private dance classes, appeared in television specials with performers such as [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley), and had a role as the maid in the film ''[The Party](/source/The_Party_(1968_film))'' (1968). After Taylor retired, she became a restaurant hostess in Los Angeles. She worked at [Hamburger Hamlet](/source/Hamburger_Hamlet), [Roy's](/source/Roy's) Restaurant, Le Dome, and [Chasen's](/source/Chasen's).{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/vintage-los-angeles-the-tragedy-of-hamburger-hamlet/|title=Vintage Los Angeles: The Tragedy of Hamburger Hamlet Los Angeles Magazine|last=Martino|first=Alison|date=January 2, 2014|website=Los Angeles Magazine|language=en-US}} == Personal life == Taylor first met Davis when she was dancing at Ciro's nightclub in Los Angeles in 1953.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wehoville.com/2018/11/18/frances-taylor-davis-wehos-diva-hostess-hamburger-hamlet-died/|title=Frances Taylor Davis, WeHo's 'Diva' and Hostess of Hamburger Hamlet, Has Died|date=November 18, 2018|website=WEHOville|language=en-US}} When she traveled back to Chicago, Davis was also in town for gigs. Taylor introduced Davis to her family; Miles asked Frances' father for her hand in marriage, to which her father said, "No." Taylor also rejected Miles' proposal. Taylor married Jean-Marie Durand in [Mexico City](/source/Mexico_City) in 1955 where they were both performing.{{Cite journal|date=August 18, 1955|title=Katherine Dunham Hosts Newlyweds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vrEDAAAAMBAJ&q=jean+marie+durand+frances+jet&pg=PA14|journal=Jet|volume=8|issue=15|pages=14}}{{Cite journal|date=August 4, 1955|title=Dancer, Haitian Wed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xbEDAAAAMBAJ&q=jean+marie+durand+frances+taylor&pg=PA18|journal=Jet|volume=3|issue=13|pages=18}} Durand was of [Haitian](/source/Haitians) descent and also a member of the Katherine Dunham troupe; he and Frances met in Argentina in 1954. Taylor left the troupe following the marriage and gave birth to a son, Jean-Pierre Durand (who reportedly inspired Miles' tune "Jean-Pierre"). After Taylor separated from Durand, she ran into Davis in New York City in 1957. Davis told her, "Now that I've found you, I'll never let you go."{{Cite journal|date=November 14, 1957|title=New York Beat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XrcDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet+1957&pg=PA64|journal=Jet|volume=13|issue=2|pages=64}}{{Cite web|url=http://thehollywood360.com/an-interview-with-frances-davis-miles-daviss-1st-wife/|title=An Interview with Frances Davis (Miles Davis's 1st Wife)|last=Aronson|first=Sheryl|date=September 25, 2017|website=The Hollywood 360|language=en-US}} Taylor and Davis were married in [Toledo, Ohio](/source/Toledo%2C_Ohio) on December 21, 1959.{{Cite journal|date=January 7, 1960|title=Miles Davis, Frances Taylor Wed In Toledo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=064DAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+Taylor+jet+1960+miles+davis&pg=PA59|journal=Jet|volume=17|issue=11|pages=59}} Taylor became Davis' muse, influencing his change in musical direction. Davis wrote "Fran Dance" for Taylor; it appears on his album ''[Jazz Track](/source/Jazz_Track)'' (1959).{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RRLSAgAAQBAJ&q=porgy+and+bess+City+Center+1958&pg=PA252|title=Reading Jazz: A Gathering of Autobiography, Reportage, and Criticism from 1919 to Now|last=Gottlieb|first=Robert|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|year=2014|isbn=978-0-307-79727-8|pages=252|language=en}} Her role in the musical ''Porgy and Bess'' inspired his album [''Porgy and Bess''](/source/Porgy_and_Bess_(Miles_Davis_album)) (1959). His album ''[Sketches of Spain](/source/Sketches_of_Spain)'' (1960) was inspired by a [flamenco](/source/flamenco) performance Taylor insisted they attend. Davis featured Taylor on the cover of multiple albums, including [''Someday My Prince Will Come''](/source/Someday_My_Prince_Will_Come_(Miles_Davis_album)) (1961). However, the marriage was marred by [domestic violence](/source/domestic_violence). Davis became increasingly violent towards Taylor as his [cocaine addiction](/source/Cocaine_dependence) and [alcohol abuse](/source/alcohol_abuse) worsened. Wrote Davis in his 1990 memoir ''[Miles: The Autobiography](/source/Miles%3A_The_Autobiography)'': "Every time I hit her, I felt bad because a lot of it really wasn't her fault but had to do with me being temperamental and jealous." Shortly after Taylor and Davis were photographed together for the cover of ''[E.S.P.](/source/E.S.P._(Miles_Davis_album))'' (1965), Taylor fled and went to stay with her friend, singer [Nancy Wilson](/source/Nancy_Wilson_(jazz_singer)) in California.{{cite AV media |publication-date=May 25, 2018 |title=Frances Davis: Her Story - Life Before & After Miles |url=https://snapshotsfoundation.com/index.php/articles/129-frances-taylor-davis-interview |access-date=May 19, 2024 |time={{time needed|date=May 2024}} |publisher=Snapshots Music & Arts Foundation |via=Vimeo}}{{Cite book|title=Miles, The Autobiography|last=Davis, Miles|publisher=Simon and Schuster|others=Troupe, Quincy|year=1990|isbn=0-671-63504-2|location=New York|oclc=20015144}} Taylor filed for divorce in 1966 and it was finalized in 1968.{{Cite journal|date=February 15, 1968|title=Miles Davis And Wife Now 'Miles Apart'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LrgDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+miles+davis+jet&pg=PA23|journal=Jet|volume=33|issue=19|pages=23}} She was interviewed for the documentary ''[Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool](/source/Miles_Davis%3A_Birth_of_the_Cool)''; it was released posthumously in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/miles-davis-film-documentary-birth-of-cool/|title = Miles Davis' life explored in new doc, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool|date = 17 March 2020}} Taylor had a relationship with [George Barrie](/source/George_Barrie), CEO of [Fabergé](/source/Faberg%C3%A9_(cosmetics)). In 1990, Taylor filed a lawsuit charging her long-time friend [Eartha Kitt](/source/Eartha_Kitt) with assault and [battery](/source/Battery_(crime)).{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-02-ca-3990-story.html|title=Eartha Kitt Assault Alleged|date=November 2, 1990|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Taylor alleged that Kitt attacked her after they had drinks at the [Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel](/source/The_Hollywood_Roosevelt_Hotel).{{Cite journal|date=November 19, 1990|title=Suit Charges Eartha Kitt With Assault, Battery|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p7sDAAAAMBAJ&q=frances+davis+eartha+kitt&pg=PA57|journal=Jet|volume=79|issue=6|pages=57}} == Death == Taylor died at the age of 89 on November 17, 2018. She was survived by her son Jean-Pierre Durand, stepdaughter Cheryl Davis, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. == Filmography == {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Role |- |- |1968 |[''The Party''](/source/The_Party_(1968_film)) |Maid |- |2001 |''The Miles Davis Story'' |Herself |} == Stage == {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Production ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" |Notes |- |- |1956/1957 |''[Porgy and Bess](/source/Porgy_and_Bess)'' | |[City Center](/source/New_York_City_Center) Revival |- |1956 |''[Carmen Jones](/source/Carmen_Jones_(film))'' |Dancer |City Center Revival |- |1957 |[''Mr. Wonderful''](/source/Mr._Wonderful_(musical)) |Soprano, Dancer ''[Replacement]'' |Original Broadway Production |- |1957 |''[Shinbone Alley](/source/Shinbone_Alley)'' |Jail Crony, Dancer |Original Broadway Production |- |1957/1958 |''[West Side Story](/source/West_Side_Story)'' |Francisca |Original Broadway Production |} == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == *{{IMDb name|0204606|Frances Taylor}} *{{IBDB name|81295|Elizabeth Taylor}} *{{Playbill person|elizabeth-taylor-vault-0000041886|Elizabeth Taylor}} *[https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Elizabeth-Taylor+%28ii%29/ Elizabeth Taylor] on [Broadway World](/source/BroadwayWorld) *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XhXuFLZkQg Frances Davis: Her Story - Life before & after Miles] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Frances Taylor}} Category:1929 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Actresses from Chicago Category:Paris Opera Ballet dancers Category:African-American ballerinas Category:American ballerinas Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:African-American choreographers Category:American women choreographers Category:American choreographers Category:Dancers from Illinois Category:Muses (persons) Category:African-American women musicians Category:20th-century American ballet dancers Category:African-American women choreographers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Frances Taylor Davis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Taylor_Davis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Taylor_Davis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.