Jazz

Lillie Mae Jones, a well known jazz artist is an inspiration. She was an iconoclast in the beginning where she earned the nickname Betty Bebob. She scatted modern bop lines in Lionel Hampton’s more traditional swing band. She was professionally known as Betty Carter. Carter is an inspiration because women have always had a difficult time of getting their voice heard. Yet, through all of her struggles Carter never gave up.

"You had to be yourself if you were going to succeed.” This line was once said by Betty Carter and I am a strong believer in this line. Carter was a strong women who always strived for something new. She was someone that simply wanted to be herself. This inspires me because in our society today, people are affected by their peers and often, in result, are afraid to be themselves. Carter was so successful that she created her own record label called "Bet-Car" and she became a well-known jazz talent scout. What inspires me most about Carter is she taught future generations to find their own voice.