HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BILLY ECKSTINE

 110 years ago, singer and bandleader Billy Eckstine was born in Pittsburg. 

Lionel Hampton said "He was one of the greatest singers of all time...We were proud of him because he was the first Black popular singer singing popular songs in our race.  We, the whole music profession, were so happy to see him achieve what he was doing.  He was one of the greatest singers of that era...He was our singer."

And Quincy Jones noted, "If he'd been white, they sky would have been the limit."

Enjoy a little bit of Billy Eckstine's magic:

"Misty"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG223EVSEls

"Prisoner of Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWuGF-Xh-RM

"I Apologize"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFVFkVyQGNQ

"Passing Strangers"  (with Sarah Vaughan)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk9NVZMNyiM

"Everything I Have Is Yours"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZZSirka0-U

"In the Still of the Night"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0c5B_Wod5o

"A Cottage for Sale"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-dl8855ITU

"Blue Moon"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSsYV930O10

"My Foolish Heart"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EehiIFxmrE8

"Prisoner of Love"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA5ovlq7pEU

"As Time Goes By"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3RJwjQDuJM

"Caravan"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zB7gq0v5-I