![]() ![]() Despite these obstacles, Eckstine maintained a significant career as a recording artist and nightclub performer until his death in 1993 at age 78. His career cooled considerably as a result, and soon thereafter Elvis Presley and other rock and roll idols captured the youth market. By 1951, Eckstine was the hottest vocalist in America, a sexy singing idol who drew thousands of teenage “bobby-soxers”-which ultimately created a scandal when a photo of him surrounded by fawning white teenage girls appeared in Life magazine. But his popularity grew steadily and in 1946 he managed to break through the color barrier, getting bookings in major white clubs and becoming Frank Sinatra’s main rival in the polls (Eckstine was once dubbed the “Sepia Sinatra”). Ironically his first big hit, the blatantly sexual blues song “ Jelly, Jelly” recorded in 1940 with the Earl Hines Orchestra, played right into the stereotypes of the era. Though a gifted jazz singer and bandleader, Eckstine set his sights on becoming the first African American crooner of romantic ballads (at the time, the music industry only promoted white men in that role). ![]() Known for his suave good looks and gossamer voice, Eckstine rose to fame in the 1940s. Publisher: Hal Leonard ( Jazz Biography Series)īefore Harry Belafonte, before Nat “King” Cole, there was Billy Eckstine-Mr. ![]()
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