One of the most successful and influential entertainers of the early half of the 20th century, the amazing Sophie Tucker was born on this day in 1884.
With her blowsy style, combining rarely-heard black musical numbers of her day with outrageous banter, she successfully bridged the gap between the Vaudeville and Ragtime eras into Hollywood movies and mainstream entertainment, making guest appearances on TV until her death in the 1960s.
Never reknowned for her great beauty, she was nevertheless hugely popular, and her carefree style was an influence on generations of sassy lady stars such as Mae West, Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr, and most famously of all Bette Midler - who regularly features some of Sophie's smutty routines in her shows...
Enjoy the rare talent that is Sophie Tucker!
And Bette's tribute to her:
"We Love Sophie Tucker" page on MySpace
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