Betty Carter, May 16, 1929 – September 26, 1998) was an American jazz singer. She was well-known for her improvisational style and unique vocal style. Carter made jazz a more improvisational genre, and expanded the role of the singer. Although her voice wasn’t as well-known as those of Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan, many people consider her to be a master of jazz’s human voice. Carmen McRae once stated that there was only one jazz singer: Betty Carter. “[1] Carter was born Lillie M. Jones in Flint, Michigan, and grew up with her father in Detroit. She studied piano at Detroit Conservatory. She was a finalist in a talent contest, and she became a regular at the local club circuit singing and playing piano. She sang with Charlie Parker when she was 16. Later, she performed with Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. She also toured with Lionel Hampton (from whom she earned the nickname “Betty Bebop”), where she learned to sing bebop scat. Her career was somewhat slowed down in the 1960s and 70s. However, she did a number of duets with Ray Charles, including the R
