Anita Belle Colton, known professionally as Anita O'Day, was born on October 18, 1919, in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She emerged as a pioneering jazz singer whose career spanned over seven decades, from 1934 to 2006. O'Day was renowned for her unique sound, swinging rhythmic sense, and her ability to interpret both ballads and scat with equal skill. She began her performing career as a ballroom dance contest winner in the 1930s and adopted the stage name "O'Day," which is pig Latin for "dough," a slang term for money.

In 1941, O'Day joined Gene Krupa's big band, where she recorded "Let Me Off Uptown," a notable interracial duet with trumpeter Roy Eldridge. This collaboration brought her significant acclaim, earning her the title of "New Star of the Year" by DownBeat magazine. Her time with Krupa's band was followed by stints with Woody Herman and Stan Kenton, with whom she recorded the hit "And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine."

O'Day's career was marked by both success and personal struggles, including battles with drug addiction. Despite these challenges, she made a lasting impact on jazz music, inspiring future generations of singers. Her performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, captured in the film "Jazz on a Summer's Day," solidified her international fame.

Throughout her career, O'Day was known for defying the traditional image of female jazz singers by wearing band jackets and skirts instead of evening gowns, asserting her identity as a "hip" jazz musician. She continued to perform into her later years, celebrating 50 years in jazz with a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1985 and remaining active on the club circuit until her death on November 23, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. Her autobiography, "High Times, Hard Times," chronicles her life and career, highlighting both her achievements and struggles.