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The Art of the Story

Trailblazing tennis legend Althea Gibson wanted to be a singing star

By Doug Doyle
Published August 15, 2024 at 10:58 AM EDT
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Althea Gibson and Jackie Robinson share a moment together. They also played golf together.
Oxford University Press
Althea Gibson and Jackie Robinson share a moment together. They also played golf together.

On this episode of The Art of the Story, author Ashley Brown talks to WBGO's Doug Doyle about her biography of tennis legend Althea Gibson.

Ashley Brown is the author of "Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson"
Oxford University Press
Ashley Brown is the author of "Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson"

In 1957, Althea Gibson became the first African American to win the U.S. Open (known at that time of the U.S. Nationals).

But the two-time Wimbledon and U.S. Nationals Champion also wanted a singing career.

"Athea Gibson Sings" was releaased on Dot Records
Oxford University Press/Dot Records
"Athea Gibson Sings" was releaased on Dot Records

You can SEE the entire SportsJam with Doug Doyle interview with Ashley Brown here.

Ashley Brown is Assistant Professor and the Allan H. Selig Chair in the History of Sport and Society at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an expert on sport history, women's history, and African American history. She's the author of "Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson".
Ashley Brown/Oxford University Press
Ashley Brown is Assistant Professor and the Allan H. Selig Chair in the History of Sport and Society at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an expert on sport history, women's history, and African American history. She's the author of "Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson".

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The Art of the Story Althea GibsonServing Herself: The Life and Times of Althea GibsonU.S. Women's Open ChampionshipAshley BrownSportsJam with Doug DoyleThe Art of the Story
Doug Doyle
Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. Doug and his staff have received more than 250 awards from organizations like PRNDI (now PMJA), AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.
See stories by Doug Doyle