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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 1-25 of 54 records)

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  
(Results 1-25 of 54 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bailey, Mildred," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

Bailey, Mildred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103960.

"Bailey, Mildred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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