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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 (Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bailey, Mildred," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

Bailey, Mildred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

"Bailey, Mildred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960

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