Biography

Attractive Hazel Diaz was a "Hot-Cha" performer. A popular singer and dancer in the Golden Era of Harlem. Also a fine actress in "Swing!" and "Birthright," films made by Oscar Micheaux. She was a charismatic, emotional actress, the kind of actress to showcase all her emotions in every gesture and attitude. She could adapt to any role, and even though only making 2 films, showed how multi-talented she was with her singing, dancing and acting in "Swing" and "Birthright" and her contribution is very much enjoyed. Not much is known about Hazel Diaz but hopefully some information will surface on this once talented performer and actress.
- IMDb mini biography by: Alicia T. (MsLadySoul@aol.com)

Born in Baltimore, Hazel Diaz was the daughter of a laundress and a Puerto Rican-born laborer in a tobacco factory. She ran away from home at the age of fifteen to dance in a traveling vaudeville show called the "Octoroon Follies." From there, she danced as a member of the chorus for a number of vaudeville productions until she became known as a "torch singer" who was working her way up the ladder of success; she was singing at Smalls' Paradise in Harlem in the summer of 1935 and had signed a contract to sing at Radio City Music Hall when she was severely injured in a accident in the New York City subway system. After a tedious recovery, she appeared in nightclubs and on stage before settling in the Boston area where, for a time, she owned and operated the Little Dixie Club. After a couple of years, she went back out on the road, appearing in various venues in Cleveland, Baltimore, and New York City, for varying periods of time, before returning to Boston. After she retired, she lived in Columbus, Ohio, where she participated in "Living History" programs where she shared her story with schoolchildren in an attempt to bring the past alive for them.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jane Margaret Laight