GREAT FEMALE SINGERS: Barbara McNair

Here is a great song perfectly performed by the supersinger Barbara McNair.
Popular African-American vocalist and entertainer Barbara McNair (1934-2007) dazzled audiences with her singing prowess and exceptional beauty for well over four decades. So stunning was Barbara that in 1969 she was voted among the world’s ten most beautiful women by the International association of cosmetologists. Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair studied music at the American Conservatory of music in Chicago. Her big break came with a win on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion and the Cocoanut Grove. She soon became one of the country's most popular headliners and a guest on such television variety shows as The Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, The Bell Telephone hour, The Hollywood Palace, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Tonight Show, while recording for the Coral, Signature, and Motown labels. McNair's acting career began on television, guesting on series such as Dr. Kildare, I spy, Mission: Impossible, Hogan's heroes and McMillan and wife. She caught the attention in the crime drama If he hollers let him go (1968), then donned a nun's habit for Change of habit (1969), Elvis Presley's last feature film. She portrayed Sidney Poitier's wife in They call me MISTER Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The organization (1971). McNair's Broadway credits include The body beautiful (1958), No strings (1962) (replacing original star Diahann Carroll), and a revival of The pajama game (1973). McNair starred in her own 1969 television variety series, but it lasted only one season, despite the wattage provided by A-list guests like Tony Bennett and Sonny and Cher. She toured frequently with Nat 'King' Cole in the 1960's. She made two LPs of standards and other soul-oriented LPs. Barbara worked her way up from typist to singer of small supper clubs to headlining large showrooms as one of America's more visible black singers of the late 1950s and 1960s. A jazz stylist influenced by the great Sarah Vaughan at first (and June Christy and Peggy Lee as well), she gently eased into popular music. She was gifted with a powerful and beautiful voice, in the great traditions of big-voiced singers.
Enjoy Barbara's beauty and voice!

I'll build a stairway to paradise