Janee Michelle

Geneva "Gee" was born into a large family with deep roots in the Seventh Ward. She is what New Orleans natives call a "Creole's Creole". Her father was a barber who owned a business on St. Anthony Street and her mother was a hairdresser. She was the second born in a close knit family of four siblings which consisted of an older brother Walbert and two younger sisters, Zernell and Zona. She always wanted to be an entertainer and as a child would dance and rehearse skits to perform for family and friends in the neighborhood. Encouraged by Mrs. Leah McKenna, Principal at Rivers Frederick Junior High School, she participated in whatever recital or program being presented at the school or other venue. She credits her mother for being her staunchest supporter "who was the foundation of my life and all my successes." Her earliest memories of performers who inspired her are of Pearl Bailey, Eartha Kitt and Lena Horne appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. The family relocated and she arrived in LA convinced she would make it. She got an agent and changed her name to Janell Michelle. She was also enrolled at the time in Manual Arts High School. While she commuted weekly to Las Vegas to work as a dancer, she graduated 25th scholastically in a class of 500. After graduation, she acted in bit parts in made for television programs finally landing a roll in Buffalo Soldier (1970) and Mephisto Waltz (1971. At 23, she met and fell in love with and married Robert DuQui, a widower with 4 children. This marriage produced a son, Robert Diego Duqui and ended in divorce. She married Robert Tucker in 1979. In 1983 the couple welcomed a baby girl, Iam. She is a successful businesswoman in New Orleans LA.