| Miche Braden | |
| Birth Date: | November 14, 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S |
| Known For: | On-stage portrayals of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday |
| Occupation: | Jazz singer and theatrical performer |
| Education: | Mackenzie High School |
| Alma Mater: | Michigan State University |
| Nationality: | American |
Miche Braden (born November 14, 1953) is a jazz singer and theatrical performer known for her on-stage portrayals of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.[1] [2] Braden, who is originally from Detroit, originated the Bessie Smith role and has been performing it since 2000 in The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith.[3] [4] Braden has been called "the biggest force of nature this side of Hurricane Harvey."[5] [6] She has performed in the musical nationwide, including an off-Broadway run in 2001 and again in 2011, as well as acting as the musical director and writing songs.[7] She was nominated for a Helen Hayes award for her performance in 2018.[8]
Braden was born in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Mackenzie High School and Cooley High School. She later attended Michigan State University.[9] While in Detroit, Braden was an artist-in-residence with the Detroit Council of the Arts. She also founded a women's jazz band called Straight Ahead. She describes herself as a protégé of Motown musicians Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Earl Van Dyke and jazz master composer Harold McKinney.