Mildred Bailey

[Lazaro Vega]

As we begin Women’s History Month please join Blue Lake on-demand for the first female vocalist featured with a national dance band (The Paul Whiteman Orchestra), who then formed the first big band co-led by a woman (with husband Red Norvo). Mildred Bailey was a microphone singer, an intimate new approach that Bing Crosby popularized as “a crooner.” Women singers who favored the mic were known as “canaries.” Bailey was the first, very different than Mamie or Bessie Smith. As you’ll hear today on Jazz From Blue Lake from Blue Lake on-demand, www.bluelake.org/ondemand