Wallace King
Encyclopedia
Wallace King was an African American
blackface
minstrel
performer from the 19th century. He played with Callender's Georgia Minstrels, and in 1882 was second to only Billy Kersands
in pay and popularity. King was a "Sweet Singing Tenor" and known for his emotional, romantic ballad
s.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
minstrel
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
performer from the 19th century. He played with Callender's Georgia Minstrels, and in 1882 was second to only Billy Kersands
Billy Kersands
Billy Kersands was an African American comedian and dancer. He was the most popular black comedian of his day, best known for his work in blackface minstrelsy...
in pay and popularity. King was a "Sweet Singing Tenor" and known for his emotional, romantic ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s.