American jazz singer.

Born: 27 March 1924 in Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Died: 3 April 1990 in Hidden Hills, California, USA.

One of the most respected of all jazz singers, known among her close-knit circle of musician friends as ’Sassy’ and among her worldwide fan base as ’The Divine One’.
First she won a talent contest held 1942 at Harlem’s Apollo Theater with her rendition of Body And Soul. 1942 to 44 she was member of Earl Hines And His Orchestra and 1944/45 of Billy Eckstine And His Orchestra. From 1946 to 1957 she was accompanied on the piano by Jimmy Jones, Ronnell Bright and Kirk Stuart. She worked with John Kirby and became a solo artist.
She was married three times: to George Treadwell (1946–1958), to Clyde B. Atkins (1958–1961), and to Waymon Reed (1978–1981).