Spoiler : Roche, Betty (Mary Elizabeth Roche) Died in Wilmington, Delaware; died 2/16/1999 at age 81 at the Mainland Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pleasantville, New Jersey. Blues-Be-Bop singer that began her career when she won the first prize in an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. In 1941 was a member of the Savoy Sultans vocal group. Joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1943, then was a featured vocalist with the group until the early 1950's, appearing on radio and television with Ellington.