Billy Eckstine by Atlanta visual artist Corey Barksdale. Explore collector-ready originals, fine art prints, commissions, and licensing—work celebrating Black culture, history, and everyday life.
Billy Eckstine's smooth baritone voice and suave manner brought his music to a wide audience. He joined pianist Earl Hines in Chicago in 1939 and t led a big band from 1944-47 that many see as the cradle of bebop, although few recordings survive. He was one of the few black singers to be featured on national radio, largely thanks to his beguiling romantic ballads. He remained a draw on the caba circuit in later years.