An actress and singer closely identified with the role of Bess in the opera Porgy and Bess, Etta Moten Barnett was born in Texas and studied music and drama at Western University in Kansas City, Kansas.
Music
As a prominent big band leader, Andy Kirk popularized the Kansas City sound nationwide.
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Andrew "Skip" Carter’s fascination with radio started early. Raised in Savannah, Georgia, he built his first radio set at age 14.
Lafayette Alonzo Tillman is remembered most for being one of Kansas City’s first African American police officers.