August 16 - Al Hibbler (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for August 16th are here: Madonna (2019) and Heinrich Marschner (2020)

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Al Hibbler (16 August 1915 – 24 April 2001) was an American popular singer who sang with Duke Ellington's orchestra before working as a solo artist. He was active in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got That Swing?

 

"Hibbler cannot be regarded as a jazz singer but as an exceptionally good interpreter of twentieth-century popular songs who happened to work with some of the best jazz musicians of the time." --- Wikipedia, quoting Colin Larkin 

There’s quite a dispute

  Which I’ll summarize as:

Did singer Al Hibbler

   Really sing jazz?

It may not be jazz

   In the strictest traditions,

But he worked with the best

   Of the jazz band musicians,

And jazzers were giddy

   When he came along.

With his blue-ribbon stylings

   Of popular song.

But decide either way,

   And don’t be a quibbler,

Today is the day that

   We honor Al Hibbler!

 

 

 

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