Personal Information Born Queen Esther Marrow in Newport News, Virginia, c. 1943. Career Began singing in church choir as a child; sang with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra at the first sacred concert in San Francisco, 1966; toured with the Ellington band, 1966-70; performed as part of Dr. Martin Luther King's "World Crusade," 1966; performed at the Kennedy Center to honor Dr. ...show more

Personal Information Born Queen Esther Marrow in Newport News, Virginia, c. 1943. Career Began singing in church choir as a child; sang with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra at the first sacred concert in San Francisco, 1966; toured with the Ellington band, 1966-70; performed as part of Dr. Martin Luther King's "World Crusade," 1966; performed at the Kennedy Center to honor Dr.

King's widow, Coretta Scott King, 1968; performed on Broadway in the musicals, Comin' Uptown and It's So Nice To Be Civilized, and appeared as Auntie Em in The Wiz, c. 1972-76; starred in George Faison's national touring production of Sing Mahalia, Sing, c. 1977; portrayed the mother of Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, c. early 1970s; appeared in the film, The Last Dragon, 1985; wrote, produced and starred in the musical Truly Blessed, 1990; formed the Harlem Gospel Singers, 1991; toured with the Harlem Gospel Singers, 1992-.

Life's Work If your mother names you "Queen," you better have the class and dignity to live up to it. Gospel singer Queen Esther Marrow has proven throughout her illustrious career that she is worthy of the name. She has sung for four presidents, Pope John Paul II and the British royal family, and has performed with Bob Dylan, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Ray Charles and Oscar the Grouch. As a member of the Harlem Gospel Singers, Marrow has touched millions with a high-spirited gospel-fest that blends jazz, blues and R&B. ...show less