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Wallace “Wally” Amos was the first black talent agent with the William Morris Agency of New York in 1962. He represented major music legends like Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Simon & Garfunkel. To attract clients, he sent them homemade cookies using a famous family recipe.

Wally Amos was born in 1936 in Tallahassee, Florida. He lived with his aunt, Della Bryant, who raised him after his parents’ separation. It was aunt Della who brought the famous chocolate chip and pecan cookie recipe to life. Amos appreciated the art of baking and enrolled in a vocational high school for culinary arts for two years. That experience was followed by four years in the U.S. Air Force. Amos returned to New York City, where he found work in the mailroom at William Morris.

After being promoted and representing some of the biggest acts known to music, Amos was at the top of his game. As a successful agent, he was promoted to the head of the agency’s Rock n ‘Roll department. He felt the need to move to Los Angeles to spread his wings in the industry under his own company. Unfortunately, Amos had not been equipped with business savvy, something desperately needed to make his personal management company thrive.

Little Known Black History Fact: Wally Amos  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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