Esther Phillips was a dynamic American singer whose versatile voice bridged jazz, soul, blues, and R&B. Rising to fame in the 1950s with the Johnny Otis Orchestra, she captivated audiences with her emotional depth and interpretive power. Over her career, Phillips reinvented herself across genres, earning acclaim for her ability to convey raw vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Her Grammy-nominated performances and timeless recordings, including her hit “Release Me,” cemented her as one of the most expressive and distinctive vocalists in modern music history.