Heavens Gates Presents
More of Those Great Big Band/Swing Era Singers

Big-band music, popular on recordings and radio and in ballrooms and concert halls, helped distract Americans during the pains and sorrows of World War II. Led by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and others, the bands usually had 14 to 18 musicians.

Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was a popular and highly acclaimed male vocalist and actor. Renowned for his impeccable phrasing and timing, critics place him alongside such artists as Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles as one of the most important, popular and influential musical figures of the 20th century. Sinatra had a larger-than-life presence in the public eye, and over a seven-decade career in show business, became an American icon.

All The Way Fly Me To The Moon

I Could Have Dance All Night It Was A Very Good Year

Love And Marriage Strangers In The Night

The Way You Look Tonight Young At Heart

Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American popular singer and actress. Rosemary, sister Betty, and brother Nick, all became entertainers. In the next generation, some of her own children, including Miguel and Rafael, and also her nephew, George Clooney (Nick's son), also became respected entertainers. In 1945 the Clooney sisters won a spot on Cincinnati's radio station WLW as singers. Her sister Betty sang in a duo with Rosemary for much of her early career.

Rosemary's first recordings, in May of 1946 were for Columbia Records as a singer with the big band of Tony Pastor. She continued working with the Pastor band until 1949, making her last recording with the band in May of that year and her first as a solo artist a month later, still for Columbia. In 1951 her record of "Come On-a My House" became a hit, her first of many singles to hit the charts.

Anything Goes Call Me Irresponsible

Come On-A My House Half As Much

Harbor Lights I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)

Tenderly This Old House

Tony Bennett (born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926) is an American popular music, standards, and jazz singer who is widely considered to be one of the best interpretative singers in these genres. Tony began his career as a crooner singing commercial pop tunes. His first big hit was "Because of You", a ballad produced by Miller with a lush orchestral arrangement from Percy Faith. It started out gaining popularity on jukeboxes, then reached #1 on the pop charts in 1951 and stayed there for 10 weeks, selling over a million copies. This was followed to the top later that year by a similarly-styled rendition of Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart", which helped introduce Williams and country music in general to a wider, more national audience. The Miller and Faith tandem continued to work on all of Bennett's early hits. Bennett's recording of "Blue Velvet" was also very popular and attracted screaming teenage fans at concerts in the famed Paramount Theatre in New York.

Because Of You Blue Velvet

For Once In My Life Just In Time

Rag To Riches Stranger In paradise

The Way You Look Tonight What A Difference A Day Makes

Joni James (born Giovanna Carmella Babbo, on September 22, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American singer of traditional pop music. Her first hit, "Why Don't You Believe Me?" sold over a million copies. She had a number of hits following that one, including "Your Cheatin' Heart" (a cover of Hank Williams' hit) and "Have You Heard." Joni James also had two Top Ten hits on the Billboard pop chart. "How Important Can It Be?" (#2 in 1955) and "You Are My Love" (#6 in 1955) as well as five other Top 40 hits from 1956 to 1961. She has sold more than 100 million records. For her contributions to the entertainment industry, Joni James has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Don't Blame Me

Have You Heard Just In Time

Why Don't You Believe Me Wishing Ring

You Belong To Me Your Cheating Heart

Nathaniel Adams Coles, known professionally as Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) was a popular American singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist. Beginning in the late 1940s, Nat King Cole began recording and performing more pop-oriented material for mainstream audiences, often accompanied by a string orchestra. His stature as a popular icon was cemented during this period with such hits as "The Christmas Song" (1946), "Nature Boy" (1948), "Mona Lisa" (1950), "Too Young" (the #1 song in 1951), and his signature tune "Unforgettable" (1951).

Embraceable You Mona Lisa

Night Lights Red Sails In The Sunset

Sentimental ReasonsToo Young

UnforgettableWhen I Fall In Love

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Page One of Big Band/Swing Singers
Doris Day, Jo Stafford, Kay Starr, Patti Page