When it comes to American legend Pearl Bailey, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. Sure, she was a fantastic singer, but she was also a dancer, actor, “humorist,” humanitarian—and even with all that going on, she still had time for a scandal-filled personal life. 

After winning an amateur contest at the famed Apollo Theater, Bailey’s career took off—and she never looked back. Sadly, there were many obstacles in her way, running the gamut from racial prejudice to love ‘em and leave ‘em womanizers. After years of hard work, she was finally recognized for her talents—but sadly, a dark fate was waiting around the corner.