Ethel Waters: Pioneering African-American Singer and Actress

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Ethel Waters was one of the most popular African-American singers and actresses of the 1920s and 1930s, achieving unprecedented success as an African-American woman in the entertainment industry during that time period. She got her start singing and dancing in vaudeville shows, eventually becoming a recording artist and starring in Broadway productions and films. Waters is best known for her emotional rendition of the song "Stormy Weather" and received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in 1949.

Why it matters

Ethel Waters' career represents a significant milestone in the history of African-American representation and empowerment in the entertainment industry. As one of the first major African-American female stars to achieve national fame and acclaim, Waters paved the way for greater diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and on Broadway.

The details

Born in 1896 in Chester, Pennsylvania, Waters grew up in poverty but got her professional start at age 17 singing and dancing at the Lincoln Ballroom in Baltimore. She later moved to Harlem in 1919 and began recording blues and vaudeville songs, including hits like "Down Home Blues" and "Stormy Weather." Waters appeared in several musical productions and films throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and by the end of the 1930s, she was a major Broadway star. In 1949, she received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for the film "Pinky."

• Ethel Waters was born on October 31, 1896 in Chester, Pennsylvania.
• Waters got her professional start at age 17, singing and dancing at the Lincoln Ballroom in Baltimore.
• Waters moved to Harlem in 1919 and began recording blues and vaudeville songs.
• Waters appeared in several musical productions and films throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
• By the end of the 1930s, Waters was a major Broadway star.