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Carmen McRae

New York native Carmen McRae was among the earliest and finest vocalists in the "bop" style. A piano prodigy, McRae was also a talented songwriter in her teens, composing "Dream of Life," which was recorded by her idol and greatest influence, Billie Holiday. During the 1940s, McRae sang with orchestras led by Benny Carter, Count Basie and Mercer Ellington. At the same time, she was part of the scene at Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, where bop was being born. McRae's recording career took off in the early 1950s, leading to many albums for various labels over the next four decades. Her work was always characterized by deep emotion, unusual phrasing and an innate musicality. Highlights of McRae's long recording career include work with Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Betty Carter and George Shearing and a critically-acclaimed album of songs composed by Thelonious Monk, titled Carmen Sings Monk (Novus Records).