Annie Ross – 88
Annie Ross paved her way to Europe from the US in order to fulfill her musical ambitions. One of the founding members of the historical Lambert, Hendricks & Ross jazz trio, the band cemented their legacy in the genre playing alongside all-time greats like Louis Armstrong. She is the recipient of several awards, like the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame in 2009 and the NEA Jazz Masters’ Award in 2010. Her personal life was in shambles after losing her husband in 1975 and somehow landed in debt. Thankfully, she eventually got her foot out of the ditch financially.