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PAGE 48 ENtERtAINMENt MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020

The Queen of Swing

MILDRED BAILEY OF THE COEUR D’ALENE RESERVATION

getting her inducted into the Jazz Hall
BY JACK MCNEEL of Fame.
As a result of Keefe’s 2012 performance
The mid-30s through the mid-40s that I attended at the casino, the legisla-
marked the period when jazz dominated tors who had been present introduced a
the music world, with the likes of band- resolution the following spring, honoring
leaders Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey.
Tommy Dorsey, and Duke Ellington selling Resolution #49 read, “A jazz pioneer
out clubs throughout New York City all the who blazed a trail that hundreds of other
way over to venues scattered throughout women have now traveled and we will never
the Left Coast. forget her contributions to the American
And let’s not forget the female vocalists jazz and blues musical idiom.”
fronting many of those big bands—big Keefe had begun her pursuit of gain-
names like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, ing recognition for Mildred in 2009
and Martha Raye. when she flew to Washington D.C. to
When people talk about the Jazz Swing A songbird known as “The Queen of Swing,” Mildred perform Bailey’s music at the National
Bailey, was a Native American who grew up on the
Era, the state of Idaho most likely does not Coeur d’Alene Reservation, near De Smet in the Museum of the American Indian.
come to mind. Funny thing is a songbird Northern Panhandle. Here she is performing at Audiences were receptive.
known as “The Queen of Swing” was actu- Carnegie Hall, New York, N.Y., c. Apr. 1947. Photo A year later, she flew to New York and
courtesy Library of Congress [William P. Gottlieb
ally a Native American who grew up on the Collection, 99-401005]. went to the Jazz Hall of Fame at Lincoln
Coeur d’Alene Reservation, near De Smet in Center. Keefe was alarmed to find only four
the Northern Panhandle. Idaho Governor Otter and several Idaho women recognized there—Billie Holiday,
Few Idaho residents recall her name, House and Senate members in attendance. Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mary
and most likely never even heard of her A young college student and Nez Perce tribal Lou Williams.
at all. Mildred Bailey was actually the first member, Julie Keefe, educated us about the According to Keefe, it was a great injus-
female to sing with a big band, the Paul legendary songstress, entertaining us with tice not to have Bailey recognized among
Whiteman Band, back in the early 1930s. several of Bailey’s songs. women the song legend had preceded and
She preceded the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and It was a day few of us would forget. inspired. Bailey had essentially pushed the
Billie Holiday. Keefe has been spreading the Bailey door open for these four women and many
I first remember learning of Bailey in gospel through performances around more to come in the future.
2012. It was during a Christmas Party held the country. She’s been determined to CONtINUED ON PAGE 55
at the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Casino with gain Bailey the credit she deserves by

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