Have you ever seen Bette Midler, Roseanne, or Joan Rivers perform? These women all have a loud, funny, outspoken style. An entertainer by the name of Sophie Tucker, who worked in the early 1900s, paved the way for this kind of showmanship.

Born Sophie Abuza on January 13, 1884, while her mother was traveling from Russia to the United States, Abuza's Jewish family was one of millions of Eastern European families who immigrated to the U.S. Abuza loved to sing and had a great sense of humor. She started performing at her father's restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut, where she earned tips for her songs. After an unsuccessful marriage to a man named Louis Tuck, she decided to run away and try her luck in New York City.

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