About
Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was an American jazz singer during the 1930s and 1940s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady", and "Mrs. Swing".
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She recorded the songs "For Sentimental Reasons," "Georgia on my Mind," "St. Louis Blues," "It's So Peaceful in the Country," "Doin' The Uptown Lowdown," "Trust in Me," "Where Are You?," "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," "Small Fry," "Please Be Kind," "Darn That Dream," "Rockin' Chair," "Blame It on My Last Affair," and "Says My Heart." She had three records that reached number one on the popular charts.
Bailey grew up on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where her mother was an enrolled citizen. The family moved to Spokane, Washington, when she was 13. Her younger brothers also became musicians. Her brother, Al Rinker, started to perform as a singer with Bing Crosby in Spokane and became a member of The Rhythm Boys. As adults, Charles Rinker was a lyricist, and Miles Rinker was a clarinet and saxophone player who later became a booking agent.
Member of
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Mildred Bailey & Her Oxford Greys eponymous, lead vocals
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Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra eponymous, lead vocals
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Mildred Bailey & Her Alley Cats eponymous, lead vocals
Discography
EPs
Singles
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Right as the Rain / Evelina
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Downhearted Blues / Beyond the Blue Horizon
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None but the Lonely Heart / There’ll Be a Jubilee
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More Than You Know / Seven Come Eleven
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Something Sentimental / Scrap Your Fat
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Rockin’ Chair / Sunday, Monday or Always
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Forbidden Love / Dear Old Mother Dixie
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Lazy River / 'Leven Pounds of Heaven
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Georgia On My Mind / Concentratin'
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George White's "Scandals" 1931
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Shoutin’ in That Amen Corner / Snowball
Compilations
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The Queen of Swing: All the Hits and More 1929-1947
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The Rockin' Chair Lady Apple Music
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Legendary Radio Broadcasts
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The Rockin’ Chair Lady Apple Music
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It Had to Be You
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1943-1945
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The Incomparable
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1945-1947
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Mrs. Swing
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1940-1942
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1939-1940
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1939
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The Complete Columbia Recordings of Mildred Bailey
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1938
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Cocktail Hour
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1937-1938
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All of Me Apple Music
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Smoke Dreams With Red Norvo Orchestra & Combo 1935-8
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1929-1932
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The Chronological Classics: Mildred Bailey 1932-1936
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Jazz Greats, Volume 44: Mildred Bailey: Doin' the Uptown Lowdown
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American Legends
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Mildred Bailey 1935-1944: Thanks for the Memory
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Band Vocalist, Volume Two
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"Me and the Blues"
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The Rockin’ Chair Lady (1931 - 1950) Apple Music
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Best of Big Bands
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The Legendary V-Disc Sessions
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Complete Columbia Recordings Vol. 2
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Red Norvo and His Big Band featuring Mildred Bailey
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Me and the Blues
Links
Married
Sibling
Vocal supporting musician
Also known as
Mildred Baily
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- e079ff65-ad41-48e9-b6ce-8cdb0db64802
- ISNI
- 0000000063101168
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 10 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.