Born on March 10, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Died on June 7, 2017, at the age of 96.
Daughter of bandleader/businessman Meyer Davis and composer/pianist Hilda Emery Davis. Conductor Pierre Monteux was her uncle.

She trained in the drama department at Carnegie Mellon Institute (1939-41). Her career as a singer embraced opera, recital, orchestra appearances, theatre and folk music. Some of her performances have been with the Royal Belgian Opera in Brussels, the Pittsburgh and London Symphonies. She sang in 22 languages.