Waters, Ethel

Ethel Waters African-American singer and actress Chester, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1896; Chats-worth, California, September 1, 1977. She began her career in 1917 as a Shimmy dancer and a Blues singer. Her recording career began in 1921, with the black-owned Black Swan recording company, owned by Harry Pace , former partner of the Pace and Handy Music Company. Her backup was provided by the first Fletcher Henderson band, which later toured with her. Her first double-sided hit was “Oh Daddy” and…