Henrietta Waddy

Henrietta Waddy, was a Philadelphia native and gospel singer. She spent most of her life singing gospel music and for more than 50 years, she toured nationally and internationally from local churches to concert halls. Like most of those of whom she sang, Waddy had her start singing with the gospel chorus at her church, Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, she became one of the original Ward Singers. With Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, Henrietta appeared in concerts in Town Hall, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, Philharmonic Hall, at Disneyland, and at the Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals. She also appeared with the singers on tours in Europe and Asia. After she was citied and recognized in 1958 as one of the international figures in gospel singing, she joined The Stars Of Faith and toured Europe for 12 years. In 1971, while apperaing in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, she was honored for her work in spreading the gospel throughout Europe. Among her achievements, she counted appearances at the Academy of Music, The Museum of Modern Art, The Coventry Cathedral in England, Spoletto Festival in Italy, and royal performances in England and Belgium. Henrietta appeared in the cast of The Black Nativity, a gospel musical written by the late Langston Hughes. After short appearcances in New York and Philidelphia, she toured with the play in Europe for 3 years. Waddy died in August of 1981 at the age of 79 in her West Philadelphia home, having no immediate survivors. A service was held at Mount Carmel Baptist Church and she was interred at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill.