Mr. B The Music and Life of Billy Eckstine

In 1950, Billy Eckstine was America's most popular singer, known for his magnificent voice and movie-star presence. This book traces the life of "Mr. B," from his early days leading jazz orchestras and forming the first bebop orchestra with legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, to his rise as an MGM superstar. It chronicles his lifelong fight for recognition as America's first Black romantic singing idol, navigating the segregated music world of the '40s and '50s, and his profound influence on future generations of singers.