Noted composer, songwriter, author, and singer, renowned for her captivating performances on early recordings, made a remarkable transition from high school to the esteemed London production of 'Showboat', followed by captivating appearances at the Palladium and throughout Europe and Egypt. Her impressive repertoire also included a radio program broadcasted over NBC, as well as a series of tours across Europe, the Pacific, and beyond, entertaining troops during World War II, and later, in Korea and Japan.
Notably, she took to the Broadway stage, featuring in the notable productions of 'Mamba's Daughters' and 'Mrs. Patterson'. Beyond her illustrious music career, she also pursued a practical nursing career, working at New York's esteemed Goldwater Memorial Hospital.
In 1952, she joined the esteemed ASCAP, contributing a plethora of popular song compositions, including the iconic 'Down Hearted Blues', 'Down South Blues', 'Chirping the Blues', 'My Castle's Rocking', 'I Want to Thank You, Lord', 'You Got to Reap Just Reap What You Sow', 'Will the Day Ever Come When I Can Rest', 'Kind Treatment', and 'What's the Matter, Baby?'.
