Living Legends you may have never heard of

[MikeBravo]

I was listening to some vinyl today and came accross a singer who I had not heard of before by the name of Bea Wain. She featured on a song called "Martha" with Larry Clinton and His Orchestra.

Wikipedia tells me that she is still alive at the age of 95 and up to 2004 was still performing.

In 1939, she was voted the most popular female band vocalist in a Billboard poll

She is considered by many to be one of the best female vocalists of her era, possessing a natural feel for swing-music rhythms not often found among white singers of the day. With regard to technique, she excelled in pitch and subtle utilization of dynamics.

This got me thinking about how many of us don't discover these wonderful people until after they pass. So ... what other people (not just singers and band leaders) are still alive who played a part in the Golden Era?

Let's get on the net or dig out some old vinyl and celebrate these people while we still have them

 

[Talbot]

Gil Askey is still playing venues around Melbourne.

http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1151990.htm

Full of amazing stories.

"I was at the Apollo, and this kinda chubby girl called Ella turned up for a dance tryout. Someone said, can you sing?"