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Mildred Bailey

Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Coeur d'Alene 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.

Bailey grew up on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where her mother was an enrolled citizen. 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 Tekoa (town in Whitman County, Washington, United States), Died December 12, 1951 (Poughkeepsie (city in New York, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, songwriter, leader

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 51-75 of 215 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 23986 10-in. 1/18/1939 I cried for you Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 23987 10-in. 1/18/1939 Begin the beguine Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 23988 10-in. 1/18/1939 What shall I say Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24093 10-in. 2/8/1939 Cuckoo in the clock Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24177 10-in. 2/27/1939 There'll never be another you Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24178 10-in. 2/28/1939 It's slumbertime along the Swanee Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24179 10-in. 2/28/1939 'Tain't what you do Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24180 10-in. 2/28/1939 Love is a necessary thing Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24181 10-in. 2/28/1939 Down-hearted blues Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24182 10-in. 2/28/1939 I can read between the lines Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24228 10-in. 3/16/1939 There'll be some changes made Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24229 10-in. 3/16/1939 Barrelhouse music Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24230 10-in. 3/16/1939 Arkansas blues Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24231 10-in. 3/16/1939 Gulf Coast blues Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24232 10-in. 3/16/1939 You don't know my mind blues Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24233 10-in. 3/16/1939 Prisoner of love Mildred Bailey ; Oxford Greys Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 24345 10-in. 4/6/1939 Three little fishies (Itty Bitty Poo) Mildred Bailey ; Red Norvo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24427 10-in. 4/24/1939 That old sly gentleman Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24428 10-in. 4/24/1939 Tit willow Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24429 10-in. 4/24/1939 The lamp is low Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24430 10-in. 4/24/1939 And the angels sing Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24763 10-in. 4/24/1939 It seems like old times Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24764 10-in. 6/14/1939 Guess I'll go back home Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24765 10-in. 6/14/1939 Moon love Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W24766 10-in. 6/14/1939 I'm forever blowing bubbles Mildred Bailey Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, soprano vocal  
(Results 51-75 of 215 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bailey, Mildred," accessed January 7, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

Bailey, Mildred. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 7, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

"Bailey, Mildred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 7 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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