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Bee Walker
Bertha ("Bee") Walker (1898–1987) was an influential American composer and pianist known for her work in ragtime and jazz. Born as Bertha Wolpa in Indianapolis, Indiana, she began her career as a ragtime pianist, performing in Woolworths stores where she was discovered by a talent scout. This led to her role as an accompanist for vaudeville stars like Bob Hope and Eddie Cantor.

Walker was prolific in recording piano rolls, showcasing her unique style for companies such as the US Music Company of Chicago and the Rythmodik Music Corporation of New York. Before 1923, she adopted the name Bertha Walker and recorded for the Ampico reproducing piano system and the Aeolian Company in New York City.

In the 1950s, Walker toured extensively with ASCAP, performing for US troops. Throughout her career, she composed several pieces, starting with "Nutty Blues" in 1918. Her most renowned composition is "Hey! Jealous Lover," co-written with Sammy Cahn and Kay Twomey in 1956, which became a hit for Frank Sinatra.

Walker's contributions to music, particularly in the jazz and ragtime genres, remain significant, and her work continues to be celebrated posthumously.

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