Let's try to make a long-lasting and helpful thread about this topic! Who should we disqualify as neglected and/or obscure? Of course, it's all relative. Generally speaking, let's stay away from any singer who has had her own thread in this forum. Ditto for any singer whose records have been mentioned with regularity in other music threads. Here is a roughly alphabetical list of those who should be disqualified: Betty Carter June Christy Rosemary Clooney Chris Connor Doris Day Blossom Dearie Ella Fitzgerald Judy Garland Eydie Gorme Billie Holiday Shirley Horn Lena Horne Eartha Kitt Peggy Lee Abby Lincoln Julie London Carmen McRae Ethel Merman Helen Merrill Anita O'Day Patti Page Dinah Shore Nina Simone Keely Smith Jeri Southern Jo Stafford Kay Starr Dakota Staton Barbra Streisand Sarah Vaughan Dinah Washington Margaret Whiting Nancy Wilson (All those singers have been repeatedly celebrated elsewhere in this forum. If you feel like talking about any of them, that would be great, but don't do it here. Just search for a thread about that vocalist, or open a new one!) I'd say that female groups should also be disqualified; they deserve their own separate thread. What to post: It would be ideal if you mention a favorite song by the singer, or upload a video representative of her singing style, or think of some particular trait that you like about her. In other words, don't just type a name, because a name won't mean much to anyone who doesn't know the singer. Should you want to post to say that you dislike the singer, that could be a very interesting contribution, too, as long as you tell us why. Limits: only songstresses who primarily sang jazz and standards ("As Time Goes By," "Summertime," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "My FunnyValentine," etc.) and who were active before the 1970s. This means that r&b & country singers such as Esther Phillips or Wanda Jackson do not qualify, and neither would rock singers who, like Linda Ronstadt, recorded standards after 1970. Too many rules? Don't worry. I won't be putting out a contract on you if you ignore any of these!
I recently got some Della Reese cds, as I realized I'd been liking 'Don't You Know' that I'd heard on one of the Ace Early Girls compilations. She had the kind of big voice I'd liked on a few Big Maybelle or Marie Knight tracks I'd had elsewhere.
Mildred Bailey was a popular and influential jazz singer during the 1930's, a.k.a. "The Queen of Swing" was inducted into the Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989. Unforgettable Mildred Bailey, Somehow Forgotten ยป The song that turned me on to "The Queen of Swing" ...
Ok let's break some rules, she's a blues singer but this is more jazz although not a standard. Anyway, Marion Abernathy, has she ever had a mention on the forum?
Just an aside, thought I would try to find a cd of hers locally, and was in a store with a good selection, couldn't find any, was asked if I needed help, and stupidly said I was looking for Candy Staton. Still no result
Nice list of very listenable ladies ....... I will add a few more Beverly Kenney........recorded five very tasteful much sought after records in the late fifties. Paula Castle............ recorded one very wonderful record for Bethlehem in the fifties then promptly disappeared !! Barbara Lea........... recorded in the fifties and on into the modern era......very cool and idolized Lee Wiley Lee Wiley................recorded in the thirties ,forties and fifties ........cool as an icebox in an igloo!
Most of the artistes listed by the poster are well known , even by casual listener standards but very worthwhile all the same . Grateful to members who have posted ladies worthy of investigation, even an old know it all cannot know it all !
Alice Faye, I was introduced to her when I found 3 ltd edition LP's at a thrift. They looked interesting, so I brought them home. Kind of a torch singer, easy on the eyes also.
Can I also mention Bev Kelly - her album Love Locked Out (Riverside, 1956) is another favorite. The album closes with a fantastic rendition of Gloomy Sunday - can't seem to find that on Youtube, this is the opener My Ship (Gershwin/Weill):
Both of those singers are listed in the opening post of this thread, with the comment that they should not be considered here. They have not been neglected by us (the members of the Steve Hoffman music forums): anyone who does a search will find threads and old posts dedicated to them. That said, I agree with your point that this type of music is generally neglected.