Mildred Bailey and Jim Pepper are little-known these days, but these indigenous musicians are towering legends in the history of jazz.
Mildred Bailey’s Belated Accolade - Known as "The Queen of Swing," she was one of the first women to sing with a big band and had a string of #1 hits during the Swing Era. For more information about her, see this profile in The Village Voice.
The Best of Mildred Bailey - Listen to many of Mildred Bailey's greatest hits for free. Over an hour of her songs (26 tracks).
Mildred Bailey Commemorative Stamp - In 1994, Mildred Bailey was honored on a U.S. Postal Service stamp.
The Jazz Legacy of Jim Pepper: An American Original - Jim Pepper enjoyed a particularly warm reception from Black audiences who applauded his unique fusion of Native American music and jazz. For more information about him, there is a two-part TV documentary available. View it here: Part 1 and Part 2.
Jim Pepper: Jazz and Native American Melodies - A feature from the National Museum of the American Indian.
Witchi Tai To - This 12-minute video features Jim Pepper singing his most famous song and playing saxophone. You can also listen to his first recording of this song (1969).
Comin' and Goin' - This playlist offers a listen to all the songs on one of Jim Pepper's albums.
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