In Memoriam - Eartha Kitt

My mother had a lot of record albums that she was rarely allowed to play. I say "allowed" because usually my sister or I were hogging the record player with our favourite artists of the time.

I was in university when my mother died. Going home for the summer I decided to play some of my Mum's old albums and started with Eartha Kitt. I knew of her as the woman who'd sometimes played Catwoman. From the first bars of the album I became a fan. I smuggled Eartha's albums back to university with me, and played them often. When I upgraded to a cd player, Eartha Kitt's cd "Miss Kitt, To You" was one of the first three cds I bought.

For me, her music was a way to connect to my mother, and to the person that my mother was, once upon a time. And, Eartha was good, damn good. I can't think of anyone who could sell a song like Eartha could. Ever listened to Madonna's version of Santa Baby? Weak. Compare it with Eartha's version sometime. It doesn't come close to the sultry tones or the sheer brilliance of Miss Kitt's performance.

Actress and singer, dancer and activist. The woman was amazing. We've lost a legend.