(b. March 29, 1918, Newport News, Va., U.S.
d. Aug. 17, 1990, Philadelphia, Pa.) U.S. singer and entertainer.
She began her career at age 15, appearing in nightclubs and theatres and with jazz bands, including the Count Basie band. Her first Broadway musical was St. Louis Woman in 1946; her first film was Variety Girl in 1947. She became known for her lively and earthy style. In 1952 she married the drummer and bandleader Louis Bellson, with whom she later often appeared. The most memorable of her Broadway roles, which included Carmen Jones (1954), was as Dolly Levi in an all-black production of Hello, Dolly! (196769).