Ethel Waters American blues, vaudeville, jazz and gospel singer and actress Ethel Walters came from humble origins, but as a young woman she found success singing blues in the 1920s and was the 5th black woman to make record in 1921. She had huge hits with the introduction of jazz standards such as "Dinah", "Stormy Weather" and "Am I Blue?", all three of which were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She had a successful career on Broadway, starring in musicals such as "As Thousands Cheer" and "Cabin in the Sky". She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 1949 film "Pinky".