In 1898, Aida Overton began singing and dancing for Vaudeville comedy duo Bert Williams and George Walker, her future husband. The two men produced ragtime musicals with entirely black casts, which were a stark contrast to the minstrel shows of the day. Aida later married Walker and performed strong female roles, refusing to be a stereotype - one of the first for female vaudevillians. Known as "Queen of the Cakewalk," Walker is considered one of the greatest black stage performers of her time.  She blazed a trail for modern dance pioneers and helped establish the acceptance of professional African American musical artists on the professional concert stage.

Source: *Constance Valis Hill,

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