William Clarence \"Billy\" Eckstine was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania July 1914. He was a singer who also played valve trombone, guitar and trumpet. Eckstine became a member of Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra in Chicago, joining in 1939. Eckstine formed his own orchestra in 1944 which became known as a graduate school for musicians. Members who would later be huge influences in jazz were Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and Sarah Vaughan. Dizzy Gillespie in his autobiography said \"There was no band that sounded like Eckstine's. We were playing the modern style be-bop. In 1946, Eckstine was hero in the film Rhythm in a Riff which also starred Ann Baker as well as Lucky Millinder. He had million seller hits with Cottage for Sale and Prisoner of Love. At his 1950 appearance at the Paramount in New York, he outsold Frank Sinatra.
Ann Baker was born in 1915 in Pennsylvania but lived in West Virginia. She was discovered by Louis Armstrong and performed with his band on Broadway. However, she was best known for her years with Eckstine where she performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Art Blakey.
Harlem After Midnight, Transvideo Corp of America. Ann Baker sings I Cried for You accompanied by Billy Eckstine and His Band.
