Mildred Bailey (February 27 1907 – December 12 1951) was a popular
American jazz singer during the 1930s.
Born as Mildred Rinker in Tekoa, Washington, Bailey retained the last name
of her first husband, Ted Bailey, when she moved to Seattle to bolster her
singing career. With the help of her second husband, Benny Stafford, she
became an established blues and jazz singer on the west coast. In 1925 she
secured work for her brother, Al Rinker and his partner Harry Lillis "Bing"
Crosby. Crosby helped Bailey in turn by introducing her to Paul Whiteman.
She sang with Paul Whiteman's band 1929 to 1933. In 1929, Whiteman had a
popular radio program and when Bailey debuted with her version of "Moaning
Low" in 1929, public reaction was immediate (although she didn't start
making records with Whiteman until late 1931).
Her first two records were as uncredited vocalist for an Eddie Lang
Orchestra session in 1929 ("What Kind
Discography not available
Videos not available
Mildred Bailey,