In The Cape Cod Times: ( from The New York Times)
The performer who used the stage name Pepper LaBeija as a glamourous queen of The Harlem drag balls immortilized in the 1991 documentary "Paris Is Burning" died on May 14 at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan. She, as she preferred to be called was 53. A woman who answered the telephone at her mother's home but who would not identify herself said the cause of the death was a heart attack. LaBeija ( pronounced La-BAY-zha) appeared proudly in luxurient female garb that was often golden and glittering, and referring to herself in feminine terms, her friend Marcel Christian LaBeija said. Marcel's given name is Herman Williams but the last name of LaBeija is used by all members of the House Of LaBeija, the group of performers Pepper led. When Pepper LaBeija was not onstage, she was Wialliam Jackson of the Bronx, who sometimes dressed as a man. Pepper was the last of the four great queens of the Harlem balls: Angie Extravaganza, Dorien Corey and Avis Pendavis all died in recent years. These four exuded a sort of wild expressionism that might make Las Vegas showgirls seem tame. " This is the end of the golden age." said Brian Latelme, a photographer who has covered the balls. The House Of LaBeija was one of the first houses founded in 1970. The female impersonator who first led it, thought the name sounded glamourous. Pepper took over in 1971 or 1972 Marcel said. Pepper LaBeija was called "Mother"; the house's younger members were " the children".
"A house is a family for those who don't have a family." LaBeija said in the movie. Marcel LaBeija and Latelme said that Pepper was also survived by a son and daughter, but did not know their names.
LaBeija had diabetes, which had led to the ambutation of both feet, and had been bedridden for most of the last decade. She last performed at a ball in 2001, when 30 attendents delivered her on a litter to the crowd's jubilation. " Her specialty was the Egyptian effect." Macel LaBeija said. Pepper LaBeija was a legend to the the members and patrons of the Harlem Ball scene, a world of extravegant make believe that crosses sexual bonderies and that was chronicled in " Paris Is Burning" directed by Jenny Livingston. In an interview, Livingston spoke of Pepper's " glamourous bravado" that stood out in a flock of Marilyn Monroes. The public also glimpsed the ball scene in a Madonna video that featured voguing, a highly stylized and posed dance form used in the balls. Voguing was also featured at The Love Balls, which were held at Roseland in 1989 and 1990 and drew top fashion inductry figures.
She would have loved that they mentioned her name 15 times in this article. I'll miss her.
Bobby