Bridges Digital Archive: Audio and Video Recordings

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Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

8-23-2017

Abstract

Carolyn Tillman interviews Faye Coates, an amazing singer living in Southern California. She came from a family where craft skills were common. Though originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Coates eventually settled in Rialto in 1975 with her family as her husband was in the Air Force. Coates sees herself as a loving and kind person, leaning on her faith as guidance. Due to her husband being in the Air Force, she also lived for eight years in Germany. There, she expanded her musical talent as well as coming into contact with Nazi-affiliated people. The topic then turns to her activism in Rialto as she was in clubs like the Dr. King Committee, the National Council of Negro Women, and was also the first woman of color in the Rialto Women’s Club. Coates herself is comfortable in integrated settings and is open about giving love from God to people. On the topic of her music, Coates talks about having a wonderful teacher from San Bernardino and how she became the official songstress for the city of Rialto. She is the city’s only official soloist as well. After describing the honor it was meeting Dr. Dorothy Inghram and giving her a concert in the library she is named after, Coates talks about her children. Both of her sons have physical disabilities and is vocal about how she is a proud mother of what they have overcome. She mentions that one of her sons is blind and that he, alongside his wife, was able to obtain their PhDs, which she contributes to her being a dedicated mother. Coates talks about working as a substitute teacher in the Rialto School District and having concerts to raise money for scholarships and her church. The interview ends with Coates beautifully singing the song “They Crucified My Lord” for the people in attendance.

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