Micki Grant is an American singer, actress, writer and composer. She performed in Having Our Say, Tambourines to Glory and Jericho-Jim Crow, The Gingham Dog, Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope and has received three Tony Award nominations for her writing.
Early life
Grant was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Gussie and Oscar Perkins. Her father was a self-taught pianist and master barber, while her mother worked for Stanley Products. She began studying music with double-bass lessons at her elementary school. Grant first took piano lessons at the age of eight, and the next year took acting lessons with Susan Porché. After high school, her cousin, film actress Jeni Le Gon took her under her wing when Grant moved out to Los Angeles. Following graduation from Englewood High School in Chicago, Grant studied at the Chicago School of Music and attended the University of Illinois, which she left after three years to move to New York.
Theatre career
While in Los Angeles, she was cast in Fly Blackbird by James V. Hatch and C. Bernard Jackson. The show was successful and it moved to New York City, as did Grant. She graduated summa cum laude from Lehman College. In the early 1960s, she appeared off-Broadway in Jean Genet's The Blacks, and in Brecht on Brecht, in which she sang "Pirate Jenny". In 1964, Grant appeared as "Ella Hammer" in Howard da Silva's off-Broadway revival of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, opposite Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner. Much of her early work was done with director Vinnette Carroll, the first African-American woman to direct on Broadway. They collaborated on Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, in which Grant starred and for which she wrote the music, book and lyrics, and Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, for which Grant wrote additional lyrics and music. Both enjoyed critical acclaim and long Broadway runs. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Television career
In the first story line written for an African-American in a daytime soap opera, Grant portrayed attorney Peggy Nolan on NBC's Another World. She later appeared on ABC's The Edge of Night replacing Billie Allen as Ada Chandler. and was in the cast of Guiding Light. She also had a brief stint as host of Around the Corner, a children's show on CBS.
Radio career
In her early days in New York City, Grant sought to supplement her income by working as a receptionist at a radio station. A meeting with a top executive at the station diverted her attention to working on the air. Readings and Writings featured Grant performing material that she compiled from research at a public library.
Personal life
Grant married TV news film editor Ray McCutcheon in 1966. They remained wed for 12 years.
Pink Shoe Laces, pop song, recorded by Dodie Stevens, reached number 3 on the U.S single charts. A Spanish-language version was number 1 in Mexico for 9 weeks.
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, musical – music and lyrics, performer
Croesus and the Witch, musical – music and lyrics
Step Lively, Boy, musical – music and lyrics
The Prodigal Sister, musical – music and lyrics
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, musical – additional music and lyrics
The Ups and Downs of Theophilis Maitland, musical – music and lyrics
I'm Laughing but I Ain't Tickled, musical – music and lyrics
