[1] She was trained as an opera singer and graduated from the American Conservatory of Music,[4] but in 1982 she took up singing the blues in Chicago clubs.
[1] She also worked in theater, playing roles portraying earlier blues singers, such as Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith.
[1] She appeared at the 1984 San Francisco Blues Festival, on a bill with Marcia Ball and Katie Webster.
[5] Her recorded work blended a traditional vaudeville approach with a contemporary Chicago blues format.
[1] Her recording of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" was used on the soundtrack of the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!, in which she briefly appeared, depicting Big Maybelle.