Born on a cotton plantation in South Carolina, the woman christened Eartha Mae Keith cut her own path through the world of 20th-century entertainment. A talented dancer and actress, her diminutive but commanding voice made her an inimitable vocalist. From cabaret to R&B to Broadway, she was always cool and always did things her way. Rather than let one genre define her, she shaped every performance with a personal cocktail of sassiness, seductiveness, and sensitivity. Trends come and go, but the fabulous Miss Kitt had a touch that never goes out of style.