Cora "Lovie" Austin, born Cora Taylor on September 19, 1887, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was a pioneering American jazz and blues musician, composer, and bandleader. She was a classically trained pianist, having studied music theory at Roger Williams University and Knoxville College, which was rare for African American women of her time. Austin's career began in vaudeville, where she performed piano and variety acts. She was known for her work as a session musician, composer, and arranger during the 1920s classic blues era.

Austin moved to Chicago in 1923, where she became a prominent figure in the city's vibrant jazz scene. She led her own band, the Blues Serenaders, which included notable musicians such as Tommy Ladnier and Kid Ory. Austin collaborated with many top jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, and her songwriting talents were showcased in songs like "Down Hearted Blues," co-written with Alberta Hunter and popularized by Bessie Smith.

Austin served as the musical director for the Monogram Theater in Chicago for two decades, and during World War II, she worked as a security guard at a defense plant. She later became a pianist at Jimmy Payne's Dancing School and continued to perform and record occasionally. Her influence extended to future generations of musicians, notably inspiring pianist Mary Lou Williams.

Lovie Austin passed away on July 8, 1972, in Chicago, leaving behind a legacy as one of the first important female bandleaders in jazz. Her contributions to the genre and her role as a trailblazer for women in music continue to be celebrated.