Toni Arden - Collection 1944-61Toni Arden was one of the girl singers who learnt their trade singing with big bands during the mid 1940s before embarking on a solo career as the market changed, and star vocalists became popular with the advent of TV. The daughter of a singer at the Metropolitan Opera, she started performing in her teens during the war years, and made her first records with the Al Trace Orchestra for the National label in 1944. A year or two later, appearances on

Bob Crosby

Cash Box or the UK

Don Giovanni

fun-loving approach to bluegrass

It's a year of extraordinary changes as the tribe leans on each other for support after the devastating loss of a loved one

He loves both the brilliant musician and the personality of his compositions

he played piano on hits by Earl King and Smiley Lewis before signing to Ace and recording with his long-time band The Clowns

Jimmie Grier

now reaching the point at the turn of the decade

and had more than 60 hits across the Billboard

the Peech Boys and Zapp

Born in Arkansas