Phyllis Wozniak, known professionally as Pinky Winters, was born on February 1, 1930, in Michigan City, Indiana. She began performing solo at a young age, citing Sarah Vaughan as her primary singing influence. After moving to Denver, she adopted the stage name Pinky Winters and started performing in local clubs. In 1953, Winters moved to California and performed at venues like the Starlight nightclub in Los Angeles. A pivotal moment came when Anita O’Day gave her spot to Winters, leading to performances with musicians such as Hampton Hawes and Red Mitchell. Throughout the mid- to late 1950s, Winters released several jazz albums featuring top LA musicians, including Zoot Sims and Lou Levy. After a hiatus from 1958 to 1979 to focus on family, she returned to performing and touring in the 1980s. Her releases include albums like Pinky (1954), Let's Be Buddies (1985), and This Happy Madness (1994).
