Please Be Kind - Mildred Bailey

Recorded in New York, 1938. Born Mildred Rinker on Feb. 27, 1903, the late Mildred Bailey was considered the "greatest white jazz singer" before the arrival of Anita O'Day. The songstress was much more than that, however. Bailey's vocals were heavily influenced by the blues of singer-actress Ethel Waters and Blues Empress Bessie Smith. She got her audition break in 1929 as a returned favor from brother Al Rinker and his friend, Bing Crosby, and made her recording debut on October 5 of the same year.

Though a large woman, Mildred possessed a small, bell-clear voice with a brightness surpassed only by young Dinah Washington. Here we find her in pristine, sultry and pleading form on the Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin Composition, "Please Be Kind".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blues
• Jazz

[vancouversonglines]

Such a lovely voice - but Mildred was actually a Coast Salish Native American woman - so not 'white'

[direfranchement]

Actually Mildred was the child of a Swiss-American father and a mother of part Couer d'Alene Indian heritage--she had Native American ancestry, but she was not Native American.

[vancouversonglines]

Its so wonderful you know so much about her, but from an Aboriginal (Native American) point-of-view - just because she wasn't full blooded in no way diminishes her native ancestry. Currently the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and Aboriginal West Coast based Talking Stick Festival (Vancouver BC) are both staging tribute events in honour of Mildred Bailey. She's also written up in the Encyclopedia of Native Music by Brian Wright Macleod.

[direfranchement]

I'm thrilled to hear of these tributes, and to be able to share in the appreciation of this great artist is truly my privelege. I have been an avid jazz fan and collector for some years now, but only stumbled across the late Mrs. Bailey last year in the liner notes of a Fitzgerald album.  I have more of her music that I would love to post--I can also appreciate your inclusive acceptance of her as one of your own--I too have Native ancestry on my mother's side. Thanks for the information!

[jacobsimon]

She was originally Mildred Rinker, and knew Bing Crosby because her brother was Al Rinker, one of the Rhythm Boys, Bing Crosby's original group.

[3investigators]

Mildred is wonderful. Thank you!

[gfks11]

Thats a GREAT song and version!!

[dudeboy59]

I am a big fan of Mildred Bailey's work.  I've learned a lot reading these posts, and I am proud of her accomplishments, and her heritage.

[Vermontist]

Lovely voice, wonderful recording! Thank you for posting. :)

[PublicRadioWorldWide]

That Mildred has a charming and warming element to her voice - and in the song gives good advice lovingly like only a mother could -- and she seems like a wonderful mom of sorts to me.

This recording went to number one in the first week of May 1938 (based on record sales, juke box plays and radio station requests). You can play it again for me!

[vivandav67]

WOW....gotta go find her cd's...she's /love on a biscuit...

[stavlaft]

yes...YES!!!! i like this tremendously much!!!!