Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977)
Born in Chester, Pennsylvania
When she was seventeen, Waters attended a costume party at a nightclub
where some of the guests convinced her to sing, helping her to land her
first gig. She often toured with evangelist Billy Graham on his crusades.
Waters was the second African American, after Hattie McDaniel, to be
nominated for an Academy Award. She is also the first African-American
woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award, in 1962.
