1950s

1950:

• THe publication International Musician presents an article called “Dance Bands That Made History”. Blanche was singled out among seven other female orchestra leaders for recognition. She was the only black orchestra leader on the list.

• Blanche moves to Tioga, a residential section of Philadelphia, where she becomes very active in local politics.

1958:

• Blanche moves to Florida and becomes a DJ for radio station WMBM in Miami Beach.

  • She is the only African American female disc-jockey on the air in Florida, and possibly the entire Southern United States.

  • The same station hires her as Program Manager, a position she holds for close to 20 years before moving back to Baltimore.

• During this time period Blanche also organizes and participates in community theater projects, bringing her style and talents to the stage and to the audience, both of which she loved.

• Blanche is the first black clerk to serve in a voting precinct in Florida and the first black woman to vote in Miami.