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PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC PARTNERS WITH THE ESTATE OF THE ICONIC EARTHA KITT
TERMS OF THE DEAL WILL SEE THE PUBLISHER PARTNER ON KITT’S LEGENDARY MUSIC CATALOG AS WELL AS NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS
“Her voice boasts a big and sure enveloping warmth; her world-weary sense of
glamour frames each song with classic elegance.”
-Variety
“As a cabaret-style singer, she remains as instantly recognizable as Billie Holiday was in jazz.”
-Los Angeles Times
“Eartha Kitt was the institution of cabaret personified”
-All About Jazz
NEW YORK, NY (March 18, 2026) – Primary Wave Music, the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world, announced today its partnership with the estate of the legendary entertainer Eartha Kitt and her daughter, Kitt Shapiro. The partnership includes the award-winning actress and singer’s iconic catalog of music as well as her unmistakable and one-of-a-kind name, image, and likeness.
Captivating audiences around the globe, Eartha’s catalog of music includes 17 studio albums, 8 live albums and more than 50 singles. Her recording career produced timeless hits such as the holiday classic “Santa Baby”, “C’est Si Bon”, and “Let’s Do It”, which cemented her status as an icon of sophistication and sensuality. “Santa Baby”, which was written for Eartha in 1953, sold more than 600,000 copies and became the best-selling Christmas song in the United States that year. “Santa Baby” continues to find new audiences more than seven decades after its release with almost 500 million streams on Spotify alone. Also included in this exciting new partnership are beloved and celebrated recordings such as the Top 10 hits “Under the Bridges of Paris” and “Where is My Man” – a song that also got Eartha her first GOLD record.
Kitt Shapiro, Eartha’s only child and the Executrix of Eartha’s Estate said: “I am very excited to partner with Primary Wave to further share my mother’s legacy, and to continue spreading her message of kindness, love, acceptance and empowerment, to future generations.”
Primary Wave’s Dana DuFine adds, “Eartha Kitt was a true icon with one of the most distinctive voices in music. We are thrilled to partner with Eartha’s daughter, Kitt Shapiro, and are honored she has entrusted us to preserve the legacy of her mother’s legendary catalog of music.”
About Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt was a force of nature — a woman whose voice, presence, and power transcended generations. Born on January 17, 1927, in the small town of North, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem, New York, she rose from a childhood marked by hardship and discrimination to become one of the most electrifying entertainers of the 20th century.
With her unmistakable purr and magnetic stage presence, Eartha captivated audiences around the world. She began her career dancing with the Katherine Dunham Company, later becoming an international star through her sultry performances in Paris cabarets. Orson Wells once called her “the most exciting woman in the world” after casting her in the role of Helen of Troy opposite him in his production of Faust.
Eartha conquered every medium — from Broadway (e.g. Timbuktu!, The Wild Party, Nine, The Wizard of Oz) to film (e.g. Anna Lucasta, St. Louis Blues, Holes, Boomerang), television (Batman’s unforgettable Catwoman), and beyond. Her versatility and charisma made her one of the few artists to be nominated for Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Awards. After winning a prestigious Annie Award for her portrayal of the villain Yzma in the Disney feature animated film, The Emperor’s New Groove, she went on to win 2 Emmy Awards for her reprisal of the role of Yzma in the Disney television series The Emperor’s New School.
Eartha Kitt was also a fearless activist. In 1968, her outspoken criticism of the Vietnam War at a White House luncheon caused her to be blacklisted in the U.S. for years — a testament to her courage and refusal to be silenced. When she returned to American stages in the late 1970s, audiences embraced her with renewed admiration for her authenticity and resilience.
Throughout her life, Eartha championed individuality, self-love, and integrity. She often reminded the world that, “The price we pay for being ourselves is worth it.”
Even after her passing on December 25, 2008, Eartha Kitt continues to inspire — as an artist, activist, mother, and timeless symbol of strength, independence and grace. Her legacy endures through her music, performances, and the generations who continue to be empowered by her message: to live boldly, love fiercely, and never apologize for who you are.
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