Legendary cabaret chanteuse Hildegarde has passed away to the big supper club in the sky at the age of 99. Once named the First Lady of Supper Clubs by Eleanor Roosevelt, Hildegard's admirers also included King Gustaf of Sweden and the Duke of Windsor.

Hildegard had a nearly life-long romantic entanglement with her main songwriter Anna Sosenko. Yes, the lady was a right-on lesbian! Among her worldwide hits were recordings of the songs "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and "Lili Marlene."

By using only her first name, Hildegarde started a fad for performers doing exactly that. Liberace, for example, was inspired by Hildegarde. He said: "Hildegarde was perhaps the most famous supper-club entertainer who ever lived. I used to absorb all the things she was doing, all the showmanship she created. It was marvelous to watch her, wearing elegant gowns, surrounded with roses and playing with white gloves on. They used to literally roll out the red carpet for her."

Hildegarde performed until later in her life, and always with a self-deprecating sense of humor, which however sacrificed none of her elegance and her passion for couturier gowns, glittering earrings and fluttering lace handkerchiefs. In 1961 she published her autobiography, "Over 50 . . . So What!" and during a 1993 appearance at Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel, Hildegarde said: "Wrinkle, wrinkle, leave me alone, Go and sliver Sharon Stone." (By Scott Rose)