HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Mildred Bailey

Birth of Swing Jazz: Mildred Bailey

Mildred Bailey

Source: WBGO

Born Mildred Rinker on 27 February 1907 in Tekoa, Washington, Mildred Bailey was a blues and swing jazz vocalist whose heydays arrived in the latter thirties. She kept the last name of her early husband, Ted Bailey, because she thought it had a more American appeal than Rinker. Growing up in Idaho with a father who played fiddle at square dances, as a young lady Mildred joined a revue that toured the West Coast, she ending up doing radio in California at KMTR while working at a Bakersfield speakeasy called The Swede's. Assisting her career on the West Coast was her second husband, Benny Stafford.

It was Bing Crosby who introduced Bailey to Paul Whiteman with whom she first performed on radio in 1929 (a version of 'Moanin' Low'). That same year found her making her first recordings in New York City [DAHR, Lord], 'What Kind of Man Is You' with Eddie Lang issued in the UK on Parlophone R 840. That was followed on 8 May 1930 by 'I Like the Things You Do' (OKeh 41421) with Frank Trumbauer. She wasn't originally credited on either.

'What Kind of Man Is You' Mildred Bailey w Eddie Lang's Orchestra

Recorded 5 Oct 1929 in NYC Bailey's first recording

Matrix 403031-A issued on Parlophone R 840

Matrix 403031-C issued on Mosaic MD10-204

Cornet: Andy Secrest Trumpet: Charlie Margulis Trombone: Bill Rank

Alto sax: Bernard Daly / Charles Strickfaden Clarinet / tenor sax: Irving Friedman

Violin: Henry Whiteman Guitar: Eddie Lang Piano: Hoagy Carmichael

Bass: Mike Trafficante Drums: George Marsh

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael

'I Like to Do Things for You' Mildred Bailey w Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra

Recorded 8 May 1930 in NYC OKeh 41421

Cornet: Andy Secrest Trumpet: Harry Goldie Goldfield Trombone: Bill Rank

Alto sax: Chester Hazlett or Charles Strickfaden / Trumbauer C melody sax: Trumbauer

Bass sax: Min Leibrook / Charles Strickfaden Clarinet / tenor sax: Irving Friedman

Violin: Matty Malneck Guitar: Eddie Lang Piano: Roy Bargy Drums: George Marsh

Composition: Milton Ager / Jack Yellen

Come 12 January 1931 Bailey had backing by Jimmie Noone in Chicago toward 'He's Not Worth Your Tears' / 'Travelin' All Alone' (Vocalion 1580).

'He's Not Worth Your Tears' Mildred Bailey w Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra

Recorded 12 Jan 1931 in Chicago Matrix C-7300-A Vocalion 1580

Composition: Mort Dixon / Billy Rose / Harry Warren

'Trav'lin' All Alone' Mildred Bailey w Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra

Recorded 12 Jan 1931 in Chicago Matrix C-7301-A Vocalion 1580

Composition: J.C. Johnson

Numerous of Bailey's releases performed well on the popularity charts (Billboard). 'Georgia On My Mind' reached #19 in 1932. Her last charting title was 'Almost Like Being in Love' at #21 in August of 1942. Though Bailey never topped the charts with a #1 release, she placed nine others in the Top Ten:

   Lazy Bones #9    1933
   Never In a Million Years #8   1937
   Trust In Me #4   1937
   Where Are You? #5   1937
   Don't Be That Way #9   1938
   I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart #8   1938
   My Reverie #10   1938
   Small Fry #9   1938
   So Help Me #2   1938

As a major jazz singer, Bailey would work with a number of big names. Her first recordings with the Dorsey Brothers were on April 8, 1933 with trumpeter, Bunny Berigan: two takes of 'Is That Religion?' and two of 'Harlem Lullaby'. She would lay tracks with both Jimmy and Tommy later in the forties.

'Lazy Bones' Mildred Bailey w the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

Recorded 6 June 1933 in NYC Brunswick 6587 Columbia C3L22 Charts: #9

Trumpet: Manny Klein Trombone: Tommy Dorsey

Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey Clarinet / tenor sax: Larry Binyon

Guitar: Dick McDonough Piano: Fulton McGrath

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Stan King Arrangement: Glenn Miller

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael 1933

Come Baily's first session on February 2, 1934, with Benny Goodman, putting away 'Junk Man' among others. Goodman was Bailey's main vehicle into 1939, also featuring with him in the forties. Her most important collaborator was her third husband, Red Norvo, whom she married in 1933 and began working in 1935 when he joined her Swing Band in NYC. Their first recording together was on September 20 of 1935 when he played xylophone in her Swing Band on 'When Day Is Done'. Norvo and Bailey were billed as "Mr. and Mrs. Swing". Bailey also formed her Alley Cats in 1935, followed by Her Orchestra in 1936.

'Someday Sweetheart' Mildred Bailey & Her Swing Band

Recorded 20 Sep 1935 in NYC Matrix 18092-1 Vocalion 3057

Trumpet: Chris Griffin Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Benjamin Franklin Spikes / John Spikes

'When Day Is Done' Mildred Bailey & Her Swing Band w Red Norvo (xylophone)

Recorded 20 Sep 1935 in NYC Matrix 18093-1 Vocalion 3057

Trumpet: Chris Griffin Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Dick McDonough

Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Eddie Dougherty

Composition: Buddy G. De Sylva / Robert Katscher

'Willow Tree' Mildred Bailey & Her Alley Cats

Recorded 6 Dec 1935 in NYC Matrix 60201-A Decca 18108 / Parlophone R-2201

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan Alto sax: Johnny Hodges

Piano: Teddy Wilson Bass: Grachan Moncur

Composition: Fats Waller

'Down-Hearted Blues' Mildred Bailey & Her Alley Cats

Recorded 6 Dec 1935 in NYC Matrix 60204-A Decca 18109 / Parlophone R-2257

Matrix 60204-B of this issued on Mosaic MD7-219 (CD)

Trumpet: Bunny Berigan Alto sax: Johnny Hodges

Piano: Teddy Wilson Bass: Grachan Moncur

Music: Lovie Austin Lyrics: Alberta Hunter

'Thanks for the Memory' Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra Charts: #11

Recorded 6 Dec 1935 in NYC Matrix 60204-A Decca 18109 / Parlophone R-2257

Trumpet: Jimmy Blake Clarinet: Hank D'Amico Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Allan Reuss Bass: Pete Peterson

Drums: Dave Tough Arrangement: Eddie Sauter

Composition: Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin

'Please Be Kind' Mildred Bailey w Red Norvo (xylophone) & His Orchestra

Recorded 10 Feb 1938 in NYC Brunswick 8088

Music: Saul Chaplin Lyrics: Sammy Cahn

'Says My Heart' Mildred Bailey w Red Norvo (xylophone) & His Orchestra

Recorded 19 April 1938 in NYC Brunswick 8135

Composition: Burton Lane / Frank Loesser

Bailey and Norvo divorced as friends in 1942. In the meantime, she'd recorded some tracks with the Delta Rhythm Boys, a quartet formed in 1934 which would also get configured as a quintet. The DRB left for Europe in 1956 where they continued until dismantling 1987. After divorce from Norvo, Bailey pursued a solo career at clubs like the Café Society and the Blue Angel in New York City. She had her own radio show for CBS from September of 1944 to February 1945.