I’m a sap for lounge crooners singing their hearts out on torch songs in dark dives. There is something magical about mulling over your life and cosmic existential questions while tucked away in a dark corner of a smoky club, cocktail in hand, while a jazz ballad fills the air. Lounge music is a mix of torch songs, cabaret, swing, smooth jazz, soul, Broadway hits, and pop standards. Sometimes with a mix of camp burlesque.
I grew up listening to big band swing and jazz standard singers and bought numerous jazz albums during high school and college years. Some of my favorite classic torch singers are Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Hartman, Anita O’Day, Joe Williams, Jo Stafford, Dean Martin, Julie London, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Mel Torme, Nina Simone, Nancy Lamott, Etta James, Jeri Southern, and more.
My work took me to many cities. While there I routinely sought out the best steak house and then the local piano bar or jazz club. My favorite piano bar towns include Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Scottsdale, Dallas, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago, LA, and of course New York City.
Growing up listening to the great jazz singers instilled in me a love of good songs with great lyrics. This increased when I discovered the songs of Stephen Sondheim with deep themes. With the 1990s revival of swing, jazz, and lounge, my retro tastes were reawakened. I found a new generation of jazz and lounge singers, such as, Steve Tyrell, Stacy Kent, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Norah Jones, Natalie Cole, Karren Allyson, Holly Cole, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gregory Porter, Cassandra Wilson, Jane Monheit, Tony Desare, Madeleine Peyroux, and many more.
Johnny Hartman
Perhaps the best under-appreciated jazz singer, a masterful artist. Johnny Hartman (1923-1983) was a highly acclaimed Grammy nominated jazz and torch ballad singer known for his smooth baritone voice and jazz ballads. He worked with Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, Errol Garner, Howard McGhee, John Coltrane, and others. The highly awarded album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It is considered by many as the greatest jazz album ever recorded.
“I‘m Glad There Is You”, by Johnny Hartman, 1955
Composed by Jimmy Dorsey and Paul Madeira.
Patti Page
Patti Page (1929-2013) was the best-selling female vocalist of the 1950s with 27 top ten hits, including “Tennessee Waltz” the top selling female singer song of the 1950’s. She appeared in films, TV, and had her own TV show. Page was one of the few old school pop singers to maintain popularity with the rise of rock n’ roll. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Old Cape Cod”, by Patti Page, 1957
Composed by Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus, Allan Jeffrey
Carmen McRae
Considered one of the most influential singers of the 20th Century and often voted best vocalist by Downbeat. Carmen McRae (1929 to 1994) worked in music, film, and TV and received 7 Grammy nominations. She worked with Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Sammy Davis Jr., Dave Brubeck, Betty Carter, George Shearing, Harry Connick Jr., and others.
“When I Fall In Love” by Carmen McRae, 1959
Composed by Victor Young and Edward Heyman.
Mel Torme
One of the truly great American jazz singers and composers, he was the real thing who sang with soul. Mel Torme (1925-1999) began in the big band swing era and was a pioneer in cool jazz. He acted in 24 films and appeared in dozens of TV shows. He won two Grammys with 14 nominations. One of the hardest working, he performed 200 times a year all over the world.
“Round Midnight” by Mel Torme, 1961
Composed by Thelonious Monk.
Keely Smith
Iconic swing and jazz singer, Keely Smith attained fame singing with her husband Louis Prima, a mainstay act in Las Vegas in the 1950’s. Smith (1928-2017) went onto a successful solo jazz singer career in the 1960s with several single hits, Grammy nominations, and appeared in films and TV. Her career was greatly revived with the 1990’s-2000s swing revival. Smith worked with Frank Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Sammy Davis Jr., Doris Day, Jo Stafford, Bobby Darin, Patti Page, Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Kid Rock, and others.
“East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, by Keely Smith, 1959
Composed by Brooks Bowman.
Jeri Southern
Jeri Southern (1926-1991) was an accomplished pianist and jazz singer known for her torch songs. She appeared in films and had several jazz vocal hits in the 1950s in both the U.S. and UK. Jazz bassist Charlie Haden said, “She sang the way she spoke, in the most pure, honest, and vulnerable ways. She bared her soul in her singing.”
“Evrery Time We Say Goodbye” by Jeri Southern, 1958
Ballad composed by Cole Porter.
Al Martino
One of the great Italian-American pop and jazz crooners with 25 top ten hits sung in English and Italian. Popular in film and TV. He played the crooner Johnny Fontaine character in The Godfather movie.
“Spanish Eyes” by Al Martino
Composed by Eddie Snyder and Charles Singleton.
Kay Starr
Iconic 1950’s singer Kay Starr 1922-2016 had a successful career singing pop, jazz, and country. She had 15 top ten hits in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Popular in the U.S. and England on stage, film, and TV. Starr sang with Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Bob Crosby, Charlie Barnett, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, and others.
“Wheel of Fortune”, by Kay Star, 1952
Composed by Bennie Benjamin and George Weiss
Nina Simone
Iconic jazz and blues singer and pianist Nina Simone (1933-2003) which Roling Stone called one of the greatest singers. Called the ‘High Priestess of Soul’, popular, influential, and had several hit singles and albums. She studied classical music at Curtis and Juilliard. Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fames, Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fames, and the R&B Hall of Fame.
You Don’t Know What Love Is by Nina Simone
Composed by Don Page and Gene De Paul.
Billy Eckstine
Swing big band leader and bebop jazz pioneer Billy Eckstine (1914-1993) is considered one of the great jazz singers. Known for his rich baritone voice, he had big hits in the 1940s and ‘50’s. His bebop jazz big band included the greatest bebop stars, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Fats Navarro. Gene Ammons, Pearl Baily, and others. Eckstine was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Blue Moon” sung by Billy Eckstine, 1952
Composed by Rodgers and Hart
Teresa Brewer
She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950’s appearing on numerous TV shows. Teresa Brewer sang pop, rock, R&B, country, and latter jazz with nine top ten single hits and over 600 recordings. She turned to jazz in the 1970’s and recoded with jazz stars Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bobby Hacket, Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, and others.
“Til I Waltz Again With You”, by Teresa Brewer, 1953
Composed by Sid Prosen.
Vic Damone
The ultimate crooner known for his love and torch songs on radio, TV, and films in the 1950’s to ‘70s. Vic Damone (1928-2018) was helped in his career by Milton Berle, Arthur Godfrey, Perry Como, and Ed Sullivan. He was a regular on dozens of variety TV shows and had his own TV show. He recorded 13 top ten hits.
“My Foolish Heart” by Vic Damone
Composed by Victor Young and Ned Washington
Julie London
Singer, actress, and fashion icon of stage, film, and TV shows from the 1940s to the 1970s. Julie London (1926-2000) was very popular and was known for singing torch songs with her unique sexy, sultry, low-key, and intimate style. Very popular who won a Golden Globe for acting and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Cry Me a River” by Julie London, 1955
Her signature song that was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Composed by Arthur Hamilton.
Joe Williams
Iconic and charismatic jazz and blues singer Joe Williams (1919-1999) is the ultimate entertainer. He began his career singing with the big bands of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Jimmie Noone, Les Hite, Coleman Hawkins, and Andy Kirk. With two Grammys with seven nominations and induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He sang with Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Diane Schur.
“Teach Me Tonight”, by Joe Williams with Count Basie, 1955
Composed by Gene De Paul and Sammy Cahn.
Anita O’Day
Popular singer seen as fun, hip, and cool who broke the stereotype of the ‘girl singer.’ Anita O’Day (1919-2006) was a very influential jazz singer in stage, film, and TV. She gained popularity in the 1940s Big Band era and then the bebop jazz trend. O’Day worked with Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, and others. She received Grammy nominations and had five top ten hits.
“Honeysuckle Rose”, by Anita O’Day, 1956
Composed by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf.
