The Greatest Female Vocalists of the Swing Era

Ever since jazz was introduced during the beginning of 20^th Century, and the popularity of swing music in USA rose, women have always been a minority in the largely male-dominated world. However, there was one area of the genre that was always ruled, excelled, and flourished by females, and that was the domain of the jazz vocalist. The swing era welcomed talented singers one after another, and the best female jazz singers left an everlasting impact on the music industry with their unique voices and singing style.

Best 6 Female Jazz Vocalists from the Swing Era

If you are interested in the swing music in USA, you must listen to the masterpieces of the finest female jazz vocalists of the swing era, including –

1. Bessie Smith (1894 - 1937)

The only one of the best female jazz singers of the swing era born in the 19^th Century, the Chattanooga-born Bessie Smith was a key personality in the evolution of early vocal jazz. Although she passed away in a car crash when she was only 43, she made her mark in the industry and influenced singers like Janis Joplin and Dinah Washington. Bessie Smith was featured in a Hollywood biopic released in 2015 as the subject, starring Queen Latifah.

2. Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959)

Born in Philadelphia, Eleanora Fagan became popular as Billie Holiday later in her career. She had a way of communicating with songs that nobody else had. Thanks to the deeply soulful quality in her voice, everything she used to sing seemed poignantly autobiographical.

3. Ella Fitzgerald (1917 - 1996)

One of the best female jazz singers of not only the swing era but all time, Ella Fitzgerald is the incomparable First Lady of Song. Her journey to fame started in 1934, on the stage of New York’s Apollo Theatre, by winning an amateur talent competition. She began singing with drummer Chick Webb’s band by the end of 1930s, and her career skyrocketed in 1954, when a record leabel called Verve was created by her manager and jazz impresario Norman Granz to showcase her talent. Ella Fitzgerald was an expert in balancing her vocal technique with sensitivity while being able to improvise with her voice like a bebop horn player.

4. Anita O’Day (1919 - 2006)

Known to be one of the best female jazz vocalists of her generation, Anita O’Day was born in Kansas City and enjoyed a success career in singing that spanned 65 years. She was popular for her horn-like phrases. Although she had a lack of vibrato because of a tonsillectomy during her young days, yet her athletic style was based on an infectious rhythmic dynamism.

5. Peggy Lee (1920 - 2002)

Born in North Dakota, Peggy Lee served her apprenticeship in the band of Benny Goodman during the 1940s, and after that she decided to go solo. She was known for a perfect combination of smoldering sensuality and the “less is more” vocal minimalism in her singing style. Peggy had several hits for Capitol Records in the 40s before moving to Decca, where she recorded “Black Coffee” in 1956, once of her most popular songs. “Fever” recorded in 1958 was her most iconic song that showed off her laconic and laidback style perfectly.

6. Carmen McRae (1922 - 1994)

Born in Harlem, Carmen McRae was attracted to jazz at an early age. She met Billie Holiday when she was 17, and Billie became the biggest inspiration of her life. She even wrote a song named “Dream of Life” that Billie recorded in 1939. In spite of the huge influence of Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae discovered the uniqueness of her own voice and became popular as a sensitive interpreter of lyrics.

Conclusion: If you want to listen to real music, then you cannot miss listening to the amazing vocalists from the swing era. Turn up the swing music radio to listen to the popular swing music in USA from 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and get yourself familiarized with the best singers of all time.