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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBAILEY, Mildred(b Mildred Rinker, 27 February 1907, Tekoa WA; d 12 December 1951, Poughkeepsie NY) Singer, bandleader. Part Native American. Her unique high-pitched range, accuracy and jazz-influnced phrasing made her one of the best girl singers of the 1930s-40s, a favourite with musicians. She played piano in a cinema and a music store; her brother Al was one of Paul Whiteman's Rhythm Boys trio with Bing Crosby; she worked for Whiteman from '29. She became famous on records and radio, married to Red Norvo; they co-led an excellent band '36-9 billed as Mr and Mrs Swing, with arrangements by Eddie Sauter and others. She was with Benny Goodman '39; went solo in the '40s, had own radio show '44-5. A serious car crash '32 led to inactivity and a weight problem which stayed with her, contributing to poor health later. Her Greatest Performances was a Columbia three-LP compilation of '29-46 recordings, full of beautiful phrasing; then The Complete Columbia Recordings Of Mildred Bailey on Mosaic, a 10-CD limited edition, soon out of ptint. Compilations on ASV, MCA, Pearl; the V-Discs on VJC; Me And The Blues on Savoy collected Majestic tracks from '46 with good jazz sidemen. |