Mildred Bailey
Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs "For Sentimental Reasons", "It's So Peaceful in the Country", "Doin' The Uptown Lowdown", "Trust in Me", "Where Are You?", "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart", "Small Fry", "Please Be Kind", "Darn That Dream", "Rockin' Chair", "Blame It on My Last Affair", and "Says My Heart". She had three records that reached number one on the popular charts. She grew up on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where her mother was an enrolled member. The family moved to Spokane, Washington when she was 13. Her younger brothers also became musicians. Her brother, Al Rinker, started to perform as a singer with Bing Crosby in Spokane and became a member of The Rhythm Boys. As adults, Charles Rinker was a lyricist, and Miles Rinker was a clarinet and saxophone player who later became a booking agent. |
Birth and Death Data: Born February 27, 1907 (Tekoa), Died December 12, 1951 (Poughkeepsie)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1950
Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, songwriter
Notes: Sister of vocalist Al Rinker.
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-70611 | 10-in. | 10/4/1931 | When it's sleepy time down South | Mildred Bailey ; King's Jesters ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal trio | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70612 | 10-in. | 10/4/1931 | Can't you see (How I love you?) | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70619 | 10-in. | 10/6/1931 | My goodbye to you | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70623 | 10-in. | 11/24/1931 | Too late | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70624 | 10-in. | 11/24/1931 | Georgia on my mind | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70625 | 10-in. | 11/24/1931 | Concentratin' (On you) | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70630 | 10-in. | 11/28/1931 | Home | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70631 | 10-in. | 11/28/1931 | Lies | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | LBVE-70632 | 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | 11/30/1931 | George White's Scandals | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus and female and male solos | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70633 | 10-in. | 11/30/1931 | 'Leven pounds of heaven | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | LBVE-70635 | 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | 12/1/1931 | Popular selections | Mildred Bailey ; Jack Fulton ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Romancers | Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos and male vocal ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BVE-70636 | 10-in. | 12/1/1931 | All of me | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BRC-71906 | 10-in. | 3/1/1932 | Dear old Mother Dixie | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Rhythm Boys | Female vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | CSHQ-71907 | 12-in. | 3/2/1932 | Dance selections from Hot-cha | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male and female vocal solos | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | LSHQ-71908 | 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | 3/2/1932 | Dance music from Hot-cha and Face the music | Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos and male vocal trio | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BRC-71910 | 10-in. | 3/3/1932 | Stop the sun stop the moon (My man's gone) | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BRC-71911 | 10-in. | 3/3/1932 | Strangers | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BSHQ-73190 | 10-in. | 8/10/1932 | I'll never be the same again | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band (take 3); with female vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BSHQ-73191 | 10-in. | 8/10/1932 | We just couldn't say good-bye | Mildred Bailey ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band (take 3); with female vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BS-73304 | 10-in. | 8/18/1932 | Rockin' chair | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BS-73305 | 10-in. | 8/18/1932 | Love me tonight | Mildred Bailey | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | BS-027216 | 10-in. | 9/23/1938 | Jump jump's here | Elisse Cooper ; Eddie De Lange Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble | songwriter | |
Victor | D7VB-0154 | 10-in. | 2/20/1947 | That ain't right | Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio | Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Victor | D7VB-0155 | 10-in. | 2/20/1947 | I don't wanna miss Mississippi (anymore) | Mildred Bailey ; Ellis Larkins Trio | Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Columbia | W152702 | 10-in. | 2/2/1934 | Junk man | Benny Goodman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Columbia | W152703 | 10-in. | 2/2/1934 | Ol' Pappy | Benny Goodman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Columbia | W152704 | 10-in. | 2/2/1934 | Emaline | Benny Goodman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
OKeh | W403031 | 10-in. | 10/5/1929 | What kind o' man is you? | Mildred Bailey ; Eddie Lang's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | E37158 | 10-in. | 9/15/1931 | Blues in my heart | Mildred Bailey ; Casa Loma Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | E37159 | 10-in. | 9/15/1931 | You call it madness (But I call it love) | Mildred Bailey ; Casa Loma Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | E37160 | 10-in. | 9/15/1931 | When it’s sleepy time down South | Mildred Bailey ; Casa Loma Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | E37161 | 10-in. | 9/15/1931 | Wrap your troubles in dreams (And dream your troubles away) | Mildred Bailey ; Casa Loma Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | C7300 | 10-in. | 1/12/1931 | He’s not worth your tears | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Brunswick | C7301 | 10-in. | 1/12/1931 | Trav’lin’ all alone | Jimmie Noone Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
Decca | 60201 | 10-in. | 12/6/1935 | Willow tree | Mildred Bailey and her Alley Cats | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 60202 | 10-in. | 12/6/1935 | Honeysuckle rose | Mildred Bailey and her Alley Cats | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 60203 | 10-in. | 12/6/1935 | Squeeze me | Mildred Bailey and her Alley Cats | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 60204 | 10-in. | 12/6/1935 | Down-hearted blues | Mildred Bailey and her Alley Cats | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68712 | 10-in. | 2/14/1941 | When that man is dead and gone | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68713 | 10-in. | 2/14/1941 | Jenny | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68819 | 10-in. | 3/14/1941 | Georgia on my mind | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68820 | 10-in. | 3/14/1941 | Rockin' chair | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68821 | 10-in. | 3/14/1941 | Sometimes I'm happy | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 68822 | 10-in. | 3/14/1941 | I'm afraid of music | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 69361 | 10-in. | 6/13/1941 | Ev'rything depends on you-1 | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 69362 | 10-in. | 6/13/1941 | Lover come back to me | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 69363 | 10-in. | 6/13/1941 | All too soon | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 69412 | 10-in. | 6/24/1941 | It's so peaceful c.n the country | Mildred Bailey ; Delta Rhythm Boys | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 70310 | 10-in. | 2/12/1942 | Sometimes | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 70311 | 10-in. | 2/12/1942 | Wherever you are | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 70312 | 10-in. | 2/12/1942 | I think of you | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | 70313 | 10-in. | 2/12/1942 | More than you know | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | ||
Decca | L 5575 | 4/25/1950 | Cry, cry, cry | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal | |||
Decca | L 5576 | 4/25/1950 | Blue prelude | Mildred Bailey | vocalist, soprano vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bailey, Mildred," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.
Bailey, Mildred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.
"Bailey, Mildred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Mildred Bailey
Discogs: Mildred Bailey
Allmusic: Mildred Bailey
Grove: Mildred Bailey
IMDb: Mildred Bailey
Britannica: Mildred Bailey
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Bailey, Mildred - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82164703
Wikidata: Mildred Bailey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q257389
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/46945480
MusicBrainz: Mildred Bailey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e079ff65-ad41-48e9-b6ce-8cdb0db64802
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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