About

The Jazzy Blues Diva

Effie Burt, the renowned "Jazzy Diva," grew up in Oxford, Mississippi, as one of twelve siblings during the closing days of segregation. Her passion for singing blossomed despite the challenges of growing up during those tumultuous times. Effie’s musical journey has allowed her to perform for dignitaries like Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. And she’s also graced international stages for music festivals in Jamaica, Cuba, Martinique and more recently Paris, France. A talented composer, Effie wrote “I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa,” a song adopted as the official companion to the Iowa state song. She has also composed two other original songs, “Beyond the Tears”, featured in a media campaign for a book under the same title and “Let the Blues Walk on By”, a feature in Bob Dorr’s Blues compilation series. Today, Effie continues to be celebrated for her powerhouse vocals, captivating audiences throughout the country with her dynamic fusion of blues, jazz and gospel. Evoking the spirit of the blues giants of the past, Effie is often compared to the stylings of Blues Queen, Koko Taylor.  A featured artist on Thacker Mountain Radio, Effie also travels with the Soul Tones, a high end 10-piece performance band.  Effie, who is committed to community, can be found singing in her church choir at Trinity U.M.C in Marks, MS on any given Sunday or welcoming new citizens in song during US naturalization ceremonies. And because of her reverence for those who have come before us, she sings to honor lynching victims with the Lafayette County Remembrance Project and serves as song leader for the Living Legacy Project where she highlights the sounds of the civil rights movement. Even through all of that, Effie still finds time to pour into her daughter and granddaughter who are both living in the Washington, DC area.  As a woman of faith, community and family, her voice is her blessing and she shares it selflessly, with love.