Millie Jackson

Millie Jackson was born in Thomson, Georgia. Her mother died when she was very young, and as a teenager Jackson moved north - first to New Jersey, then New York - where she worked as a model, appearing in magazines like Sepia and Jive before music entered the picture.

Her recording career began almost by accident. "There was a club in Brooklyn that everybody used to hang out in," Jackson told Uncut magazine. "Somebody dared me to go onstage and sing. Somebody saw me, liked me, and I ended up with a contract."

Jackson first appeared on the charts in 1971 with "A Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)," which reached #22 on the R&B chart. Even then, she didn't treat music as a sure thing. She kept her day job well into her recording career, working weekdays at Schrafft's, the candy and restaurant chain, and singing on weekends. Jackson was the first Black waitress at Schrafft's 61 Fifth Avenue location, a milestone she recalls with pride.