#2: Mildred Bailey
Known widely as the “Queen of Swing,” this Coeur d’Alene vocalist pioneered smooth, light-textured vocal phrasing in popular big band music. Her subtle rhythmic timing and effortless pitch control influenced legendary jazz and pop singers who followed, including Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Her vocal innovations helped establish the expressive phrasing techniques later adopted by early rock and roll singers.
