Crooners and Songbirds

Featured Songbirds 

Lee Morse

Birth name: Lena Corinne Taylor Born: November 30, 1897 (1897-11-30) Origin: Portland, Oregon Died: December 16, 1954 (aged 57) Genre(s): Jazz, Blues Occupation(s): Singer, Actress Instrument(s): vocals, guitar Years active: 1923-1953 Label(s): Pathe...

Jane Green

Jane Green (2 January 1897 - 28 August 1931) was a United States singer popular in the 1920s. Green was born in Kentucky as Martha Jane Greene. She appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies and recorded over 30 phonograph records, and appeared in s...

Ethel Waters

Background information: Born October 31, 1896(1896-10-31) Chester, Pennsylvania, USA Died September 1, 1977 (aged 80) Chatsworth, California, USA Genre(s): Jazz Occupation(s): Actress, singer Instrument(s): Vocals Years active: 1925-1977 Associated acts: Be...

Ruth Etting

                  Ruth Etting on the cover of Radio Mirror magazine, June 1932.   Ruth Etting (November 23, 1896 – September 24, 1978) was an American singing star of the 1930s, who had over sixty hit recor...

Josephine Baker

Background information Birth name Freda Josephine Carson Born June 3, 1906, St. Louis, Missouri Died April 12, 1975, Paris, France Genre(s) Cabaret, Music Hall, French pop music Occupation(s) Singer, Dancer Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906 - April 12...

Annette Hanshaw

Birth name Annette Hanshaw Born October 18, 1901 Origin USA Died March 13, 1985 Genre(s)Jazz Occupation(s) Singer Instrument(s) Vocals Annette Hanshaw was one of the first great female jazz singers. In the late 1920s she ranked alongside Ethel...

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 - July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed Lady Day by her loyal friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday was a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her voca...

Libby Holman

Libby Holman was an American torch singer and stage actress who was, in her time, considered both a scandalous tarnished lady and a tragedy-prone millionairess. Born: Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman May 23, 1904(1904-05-23) Cincinnati, Ohio Died: June 18,...

Helen Kane

Helen Kane (August 4, 1904, - September 26, 1966) was an American popular singer, best known for her "boop-boop-a-doop" trademark and her signature song, "I Wanna Be Loved By You". Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick used Kane-along with Clara B...

Florence Mills

Florence Mills, born Florence Winfrey (January 25, 1896 - November 1, 1927), known as the "Queen of Happiness," was an American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian known for her effervescent stage presence, delicate voice, and winsome, wide-eyed bea...

Featured Crooners 

Smith Ballew

Date of Birth: 21 January 1902, Palestine, Texas Date of Death: 2 May 1984, Longview, Texas One of the finest singers of the Crooner era, Smith Ballew was nicknamed theTexas Troubadour. Born in Palestine, Texas, Ballew made his way to New York City a...

Al Bowlly

Albert Allick 'Al' Bowlly (January 7, 1897/1899(?)–April 17, 1941) was a popular singer in the United Kingdom during the 1930s, making more than 1,000 recordings between 1927 and 1941. Bowlly was born in Mozambique to Greek and Lebanese paren...

Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Born on May 3, 1903, was an American popular singer and actor whose career lasted until his death on October 14, 1977. Background information Birth name: Harry Lillis Crosby Born: May 3, 1903(1903-05-03) Tacoma, WA, USA D...

Russ Columbo

Ruggero Eugenio di Rodolfo Colombo (January 14, 1908–September 2, 1934), better known by the name Russ Columbo, was an American singer, violinist and actor, most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love,"...

Whispering Jack Smith

Jack Smith (31 May 1898 in New York City - 13 May 1950 in New York City) was known as "Whispering" Jack Smith and was a popular baritone singer in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a popular radio and recording artist who occasionally appeared i...

Cliff Edwards aka "Ukulele Ike"

Cliff Edwards Background information: Birth name Clifton A. Edwards Also known as "Ukelele Ike" Born 14 June 1895 Origin Hannibal, Missouri Died 17 July 1971 Genre(s) Jazz Vaudeville Occupation(s) Singer Instrument(s) Vocals Uk...

Seger Ellis

Background information Born: c. 1940 Houston, Texas Died: 1995, Houston, Texas Genre(s): Jazz Instrument(s): Voice, Piano                               Seger Ellis was a jazz...

Gene Austin

Gene Austin June 24, 1900-January 24, 1972 was an American singer and songwriter who is considered to have been the first "crooner". Background information Birth name: Gene Austin Born: June 24, 1900 Origin: Gainesville, Texas Died: January 24, 19...