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Ellington's Vocalists
Two notable male vocalists featured with Duke Ellington's Orchestra in the 1940s were Herb Jeffries (1913–2014) and Al Hibbler (1915–2001). Hibbler, a blind baritone, went on to record chart-topping pop hits in the 1950s after leaving the orchestra, including a best-selling single of "Unchained Melody." Jeffries joined with Ellington after starring in several 1930s cowboy films aimed at African American audiences, including The Bronze Buckaroo and Harlem Rides Again. He was often referred to as the first black singing cowboy, and with Ellington he was best known for his dramatic rendition of "Flamingo."
Portrait of Al Hibbler. Publicity photograph, ca. 1945. |