Ethel Ennis (1932–2019), Baltimore’s “First Lady of Jazz”

Ethel Ennis was Baltimore’s “First Lady of Jazz,” a renowned jazz singer who performed with many legends and wowed audiences at the Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Ennis worked her way up through the blues clubs in Baltimore and released albums on major labels such as Capitol and RCA. She was asked to go on a national headlining tour as her fame grew but she decided to stay in Baltimore, continuing her music career out of her hometown.