- Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame (1999) and the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame (2005).
- She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
- She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 1, 1990.
- Recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships award (2004).
- Grammy Award Winner for Best New Artist, 1964. That same year, she also had her biggest hit single with "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" (Capitol: 1964).
- She was a lifelong Democrat.
- Friends with Marla Gibbs, Robert Hooks, Dionne Warwick, Freda Payne, Mary Wilson, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford, Stevie Wonder, Arsenio Hall, Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance.
- Received honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music and Central State University.
- Received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Central State University.
- Attended and graduated from West High School in Columbus, Ohio (1954).
- Born at 8:57am-EST
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