Elnora Jean “Nora Jean” Wallace (formerly Bruso) was born in Greenwood, Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, to a musical family, the 7th of 16 children. Infusing her soul with the blues were her father, Bobby Lee Wallace, a professional blues singer and sharecropper, and her Uncle, Henry “Son” Wallace, a blues singer and guitar player. Also contributing to her musical education was her mother, Ida Lee Wallace, a gospel singer, and her grandmother, Mary, who ran a juke house, as described in Nora’s semi-biographical song “Miss Mae’s Juke Joint” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Da59ep-mo

As a teen, she won the West Tallahatchie High School Talent Show for singing and began to perform locally.

In 1976, she relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and began singing with a group called Scottie and the Oasis. In 1982, she joined Jimmy Dawkins' band and recorded her debut single, "Untrue Lover," on Dawkins' own Leric label. This started a 10+year run performing in Dawkin’s band and contributing vocals to his recordings.

In 1989, she debuted with Dawkins’ band at the Chicago Blues Festival, starting a long run of appearances at the yearly festival, both with Dawkins and as her own featured artist.

After a short hiatus raising her family, she was lured back into a recording studio by  Billy Flynn for his Blues and Love (2002) album. Later that year, she was signed by Red Hurrican Records and recorded Nora Jean Bruso Sings the Blues under her then-married name. Supporting the release with an international tour in 2003.

In 2004, she was nominated for two W.C. Handy Awards (now known as Blues Music Awards), as 'Best New Artist' and 'Best Traditional Female Artist'. That same year, after having signed a recording contract with Severn Records, she released Going Back to Mississippi. The album was a commercial success, reaching the top five on the Living Blues radio chart and number one on XM satellite radio. In June 2004, she returned and performed on the main stage at the Chicago Blues Festival with her own band, which featured Carl Weathersby

She remains a crowd favorite known for her energetic concert performances at major blues festivals such as the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Rawa Blues Festival, Notodden Blues Festival, Briggs Farm Blues Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, and Pocono Blues Festival.

In 2011, her much-publicized collaboration with Little Bobby for the latter's album, Good Blues, "... garnered a seventh Blues Music Award nomination for 'Best Traditional Female Blues Performer'.

In 2018, Nora Jean was inducted into the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist.

In 2020, she released her follow-up Severn Records Album, “Blues Woman,” preparing to launch with both a U.S. and international tour, until the COVID pandemic and the unfortunate recent passing of longtime producer David Earl shut it down.

When not on tour, you can find Nora and her band in residence at the Kingston Mines Blues Club, and regularly at Buddy Guy’s Legends