Women in Music Posters “I...-J...-”
for social studies and music education classrooms, home schoolers, and inspirational decor.

Dancing Spirit by Judith Jamison

Judith Jamison
b. 5-10-1943; Philadelphia, PA

Judith Jamison, who studied dance from age 10, was invited to dance in 1964 by Agnes de Mille in her ballet “The Four Marys” at the American Ballet Theatre. In 1965 Jamison joined the Alvin Ailey Dance company and became their principal dancer through 1980. Among her notable roles was Ailey's “Pas de Duke” (1977) with Mikhail Baryshnikov set to the music of Duke Ellington, she starred in the Broadway musical “Sophisticated Ladies”, also set to Ellington's music.

Jamison was named Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater upon Ailey's 1989 death and has choreographed many works for the Company since then.

Mahalia Jackson
b. 10-26-1911; New Orleans, LA
d. 1-27-1972; Chicago

Contralto Mahalia Jackson was referred to as “The Queen of Gospel”. Her signature song became “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”, the lyrics by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey; it was Martin Luther King, Jr.'s favorite song.

• Gospels, Spirituals & Hymns by Mahalia Jackson, Audio CD

Gundula Janowitz
b. 8-2-1937; Berlin, Germany

Gundula Janowitz is a renowned lyric soprano of the 20th century, pre-eminent opera singer in the 1960s and 1970s.

Maria Jeritza
née Jedilickova
b. 10-6-1887; Brno, Czech.
d. 7-10-1982; New Jersey

Soprano Maria Jeritza, the “Moravian Thunderbolt”, was associated with the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.

• Lebendige Vergangenheit: Maria Jeritza, CD

Janis Joplin
b. 1-19-1943; Port Arthur, TX
d. 10-4-1970; Los Anglels

Singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger Janis Joplin was known as the “Queen of Rock and Roll” and the “Queen of Psychedelic Soul”.

The posthumously released album “Pearl”, and the song “Me and Bobby McGee”, were her biggest hits.