Up until now, I've been thinking of Mid-Century Modern Music as music of the 50's and 60's, but if the 50's is the decade in the middle of the century, it makes sense that music from either side of that decade should be included. So how far back should we go? Where should it start?
I believe I may have found the source, and her name is Mildred Bailey.
There's a really interesting documentary available on Netflix right now called Rumble and it's about the musical contributions and pop culture influence of Indigenous artists. Bailey grew up on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where she learned a distinctive style of singing that involved gliding in and out of notes.
When she was 13, she moved to Spokane Washington and eventually found work singing in an orchestra with another young singer named Bing Crosby. They would become life-long friends. And Bing took notice of the distinctive way in which she sang, as she became more popular others did too.
Tony Bennett had this to say.
...from sixteen to twenty years old, I was working as a singing waiter in Astoria, Long Island here and that's the only thing I listened to, was Mildred Bailey. I was completely influenced by Mildred Bailey.
Frank Sinatra once told her niece, Julia Rinker.
I knew your aunt, and she is one of the most significant people in terms of how I learned to sing and who I emulate to this day.