Sensei Aishitemasu | Hidden Figures: Maxine Powell #BlackHERstoryMonth 21/28 @SenseiAishitemasu | Uploaded February 2021 | Updated October 2024, 5 minutes ago.
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Maxine Powell (May 30, 1915 – October 14, 2013) was an American etiquette instructor and talent agent. She taught grooming, deportment, poise, and social graces to many recording artists at Motown in the 1960s. In 1951, she opened her own modeling school, the Maxine Powell Model, Host and Hostess Agency, Detroit's first Black finishing school and talent agency.
Born Maxine Blair in Texarkana, Texas, she was raised by an aunt in Chicago, where she studied acting, elocution, and dance. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1933 and studied at the renowned Madam C.J. Walker School of Beauty Culture in Indianapolis, working as a manicurist and model to finance her studies. She developed and staged a one-woman show, An Evening With Maxine Powell, at the Chicago Theatre, and also performed with the Negro Drama League.
She excelled as a working model due to her grace and charm, and after moving to Detroit in 1945, she began to give classes in self-improvement, modeling, poise, and etiquette. In 1951, she opened her own modeling school, the Maxine Powell Model, Host and Hostess Agency, Detroit's first Black finishing school. She bought a mansion in 1953, converting it to the largest banquet facility in Detroit for Black Americans, and also set up shop as a talent agent, bringing Black productions and artists to Detroit theaters, and placing Black models in advertising campaigns. She also began staging an annual large scale, Las Vegas-style fashion show for Black American models and designers.
Powell met songwriter and businessman Berry Gordy when she visited the Gordy family's printing business to order programs and other publicity material for her talent and fashion show. Gordy and Powell became friends, and in the early 1960s he asked her to give an honest opinion of some of the young artists that he’d recently signed with his brand new record company, Motown. Powell obliged, and in 1964, had become so successful as a professional groomer for Gordy that she closed her school to be a full time consultant to Motown's talent.
When Motown expanded into new offices in 1966, she was hired to work in the company's department of artist personal development, developing such artists as Stevie Wonder, Tammi Terrell, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and the Supremes. When they were in Detroit, Motown singers were required to attend two-hour sessions with Powell, learning public speaking, posture, walking, stage presence, etiquette, and personal grooming, as well as how to present themselves charmingly during interviews, performances, and off-stage public appearances.
Powell left Motown in 1969, shortly before the company relocated to Los Angeles. After writing a book on personal development, she taught development courses from 1971 until 1985 in Detroit. In August 2013, a special event was held in her honor at the old Hitsville studios, in what is now the Motown Museum. On May 31, 2013, Powell suffered a fall, and she passed away from natural causes on October 14, 2013, at the age of 98.
#HiddenFigures #MaxinePowell
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******************
Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture'
Paperback: amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6
Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6
Digital download (e-book): gumroad.com/l/IkUa
******************
Links:
Rock and Roll; Respect; Interview with Maxine Powell [Part 1 of 2]:
openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_6224956EC9BB49C080C966A79D547F2D
Remembering The Woman Who Gave Motown Its Charm:
npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/10/15/234738593/remembering-the-woman-who-gave-motown-its-charm
Maxine Powell obituary:
theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/22/maxine-powell
Maxine Powell dies at 98; former model ran Motown’s ‘charm school:’
latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2013-oct-19-la-me-maxine-powell-20131020-story.html
Maxine Powell, Motown Charm Coach, Dies at 98:
billboard.com/articles/news/5755462/maxine-powell-motown-charm-coach-dies-at-98
Maxine Powell’s Motown Charm School:
flashbak.com/the-motown-finishing-school-created-diana-ross-and-the-supremes-buttocks-32894
MOTOWN’S CHARM SCHOOL:
dangerousminds.net/comments/motowns_charm_school
If you enjoy my work, please consider supporting! CashApp: $SerenSensei Patreon: patreon.com/seren_sensei
Maxine Powell (May 30, 1915 – October 14, 2013) was an American etiquette instructor and talent agent. She taught grooming, deportment, poise, and social graces to many recording artists at Motown in the 1960s. In 1951, she opened her own modeling school, the Maxine Powell Model, Host and Hostess Agency, Detroit's first Black finishing school and talent agency.
Born Maxine Blair in Texarkana, Texas, she was raised by an aunt in Chicago, where she studied acting, elocution, and dance. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1933 and studied at the renowned Madam C.J. Walker School of Beauty Culture in Indianapolis, working as a manicurist and model to finance her studies. She developed and staged a one-woman show, An Evening With Maxine Powell, at the Chicago Theatre, and also performed with the Negro Drama League.
She excelled as a working model due to her grace and charm, and after moving to Detroit in 1945, she began to give classes in self-improvement, modeling, poise, and etiquette. In 1951, she opened her own modeling school, the Maxine Powell Model, Host and Hostess Agency, Detroit's first Black finishing school. She bought a mansion in 1953, converting it to the largest banquet facility in Detroit for Black Americans, and also set up shop as a talent agent, bringing Black productions and artists to Detroit theaters, and placing Black models in advertising campaigns. She also began staging an annual large scale, Las Vegas-style fashion show for Black American models and designers.
Powell met songwriter and businessman Berry Gordy when she visited the Gordy family's printing business to order programs and other publicity material for her talent and fashion show. Gordy and Powell became friends, and in the early 1960s he asked her to give an honest opinion of some of the young artists that he’d recently signed with his brand new record company, Motown. Powell obliged, and in 1964, had become so successful as a professional groomer for Gordy that she closed her school to be a full time consultant to Motown's talent.
When Motown expanded into new offices in 1966, she was hired to work in the company's department of artist personal development, developing such artists as Stevie Wonder, Tammi Terrell, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and the Supremes. When they were in Detroit, Motown singers were required to attend two-hour sessions with Powell, learning public speaking, posture, walking, stage presence, etiquette, and personal grooming, as well as how to present themselves charmingly during interviews, performances, and off-stage public appearances.
Powell left Motown in 1969, shortly before the company relocated to Los Angeles. After writing a book on personal development, she taught development courses from 1971 until 1985 in Detroit. In August 2013, a special event was held in her honor at the old Hitsville studios, in what is now the Motown Museum. On May 31, 2013, Powell suffered a fall, and she passed away from natural causes on October 14, 2013, at the age of 98.
#HiddenFigures #MaxinePowell
******************
Merchandise! MAKE SURE U GETTA SHIRT!! teepublic.com/user/sssseren
shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/theblackamericans
shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/dacs?rq=d.a.c.s
Follow me on social media!
Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu
Personal Tumblr: sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com
Tumblr for my work: sssseren.tumblr.com
GoFundMe: gofundme.com/tc5wh7q
******************
Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture'
Paperback: amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6
Kindle: amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6
Digital download (e-book): gumroad.com/l/IkUa
******************
Links:
Rock and Roll; Respect; Interview with Maxine Powell [Part 1 of 2]:
openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_6224956EC9BB49C080C966A79D547F2D
Remembering The Woman Who Gave Motown Its Charm:
npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/10/15/234738593/remembering-the-woman-who-gave-motown-its-charm
Maxine Powell obituary:
theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/22/maxine-powell
Maxine Powell dies at 98; former model ran Motown’s ‘charm school:’
latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2013-oct-19-la-me-maxine-powell-20131020-story.html
Maxine Powell, Motown Charm Coach, Dies at 98:
billboard.com/articles/news/5755462/maxine-powell-motown-charm-coach-dies-at-98
Maxine Powell’s Motown Charm School:
flashbak.com/the-motown-finishing-school-created-diana-ross-and-the-supremes-buttocks-32894
MOTOWN’S CHARM SCHOOL:
dangerousminds.net/comments/motowns_charm_school
