Ethel Waters was an American singer and actress born on October 31, 1896, in Chester, Pennsylvania. She began her career in the 1920s as a blues singer and later transitioned to jazz, swing, and pop music.

Ethel Waters was known for her powerful voice and emotional performances, and she frequently performed on Broadway and in concerts. Some of her notable recordings include "Dinah," "Stormy Weather," "Taking a Chance on Love," and "Heat Wave."

She faced many challenges in her early life. She was born to a teenage mother who had been raped, and her family lived in poverty. She never lived in the same place for more than 15 months and was raised by her grandmother and other relatives.

Despite these hardships, she began performing at a young age and was married for the first time at the age of 13. Her first marriage was abusive, and she soon left to work as a maid in a Philadelphia hotel.

In 1925, Ethel Waters made her Broadway debut at the Plantation Club in Harlem, and her performance there led to further opportunities on the stage. She became the first African American woman to star in her own television show and was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Ethel Waters also starred in the 1943 film "Cabin in the Sky" and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the stage version of "The Member of the Wedding" in 1950.

She was also a devoutly religious person and toured with evangelist Billy Graham in her later years. Ethel Waters passed away on September 1, 1977, in Chatsworth, California.