Billy Eckstine July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993

Billy Eckstine was smooth as silk. He was tall and handsome, sported a pencil-thin mustache and sang in a distinctive baritone.

Eckstine began singing as a child. He was born in Pittsburgh 100 years ago this week.

"I consider Billy Eckstine the Jackie Robinson of popular music," says Cary Ginell, author of Mr. B.: The Music and Life of Billy Eckstine. "Before Billy Eckstine came along, blacks, they would either sing blues or they would be in jazz bands, or they would sing in vocal groups, like or . Or as a novelty singer. But they were not permitted to enter the domain of Perry Como and . And Eckstine was the first one to successfully do that." MORE HERE & HERE


Billy Eckstine : All Of My Life