Albert Wynn was best known for his work in the 1920s, although he survived and continued playing into the mid-'60s. Wynn grew up in Chicago, where he was based throughout most of his life. Early in his career, Wynn played in the Bluebirds' Kids Band and toured with Ma Rainey. Wynn performed and recorded with Charlie Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs in... [+] Read More

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Bing Crosby was, without doubt, the most popular and influential media star of the first half of the 20th century. The undisputed best-selling artist until well into the rock era (with over half a billion records in circulation), the most popular radio star of all time, and the biggest box-office draw of the 1940s, Crosby dominated the... [+] Read More

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Ethel Waters had a long and varied career, and was one of the first true jazz singers to record. Defying racism with her talent and bravery, Waters became a stage and movie star in the 1930s and '40s without leaving the U.S. She grew up near Philadelphia and, unlike many of her contemporaries, developed a clear and easily understandable diction.... [+] Read More

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In a career tragically cut short in mid-stride by a brain tumor, George Gershwin (1898-1937) proved himself to be not only one of the great songwriters of his extremely rich era, but also a gifted "serious" composer who bridged the worlds of classical and popular music. The latter is all the more striking, given that, of his contemporaries,... [+] Read More

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Songwriter, known for his collaborations with his brother, George Gershwin. The two wrote hit songs for such musicals as Porgy and Bess, Ziegfeld Follies and Lady Be Good. Many of his songs have been performed by acting/dancing legends Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Chet Baker.

Born in New York, he was the elder of Ira and George... [+] Read More

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Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was the most successful songwriter of the 20th century. Though, like his contemporaries, he spent the better part of his career writing songs (usually both words and music) to be used in Broadway musicals, he is better remembered for the songs themselves than for the shows (and sometimes films) in which they were... [+] Read More

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"You're All I Want for Christmas" is one of the standard songs associated with Seger Ellis, an artist whose striking career also included jazz piano playing, a film appearances alongside the fascinating Ida Lupino and leading an eccentric brass choir. He began tinkling on the keyboard as a boy and was first engaged professionally as a radio... [+] Read More

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A songwriter and occasional performer of his own pastoral, semi-rural ballads, Willard Robison offered several standards to the classic American pop repertoire, including "A Cottage for Sale," "Don't Smoke in Bed," "'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So," "Old Folks," and "Peaceful Valley" (the latter Paul Whiteman's theme song). Born in Missouri,... [+] Read More

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Willie "The Lion" Smith in the 1920s was considered one of the big three of stride piano (along with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller) even though he made almost no recordings until the mid-'30s. His mother was an organist and pianist, and Smith started playing piano when he was six. He earned a living playing piano as a teenager, gained his... [+] Read More

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