It was founded in 1984 by Ann Rabson, Gaye Adegbalola and Earlene Lewis.
They covered original songs (such as "Do Your Duty" by Wesley 'Sox' Wilson, "You Got to Know How" by Sippie Wallace & Jack Viertel, and "Don't You Tell Me"), as well as the music of blueswomen who had inspired them, such as Big Mama Thornton, Ida Cox and Koko Taylor.
[2] Their music, both comedic and serious, tends to deal with feminist themes, which has made them popular outside of traditional blues circles.
An announcement on the group's website in November, 2009, stated Saffire had retired and amicably disbanded.
Rabson died on January 30, 2013, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after a long battle with cancer.