Born Umpeylia Marsema Balinton, Sugar Pie DeSanto was given her stage name as well as her recording debut by rhythm & blues ubermensch Johnny Otis. Although typecast as a blues singer, she also took care of business on the soul end of things and was a convincing jazz vocal stylist as well. That would be enough to gain most singers a reasonable slice of glory, but DeSanto also happened to be a hilarious comedienne, a show-stopping dancer, and a superb and highly original songwriter whose compositions were cut by Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Little Milton, Bobby McClure, Minnie Riperton, Jesse James, the Dells, and the Whispers.Read more

Founded by Gus Wildi in 1952, Bethlehem is primarily known for its jazz catalogue and was home to an impressive roster of artists, many of whom produced their best known works while at the label. Renowned in-house producers Teddy Charles and Creed Taylor (who would later work at Impulse! and Verve and found CTI) oversaw artists including singers Chris Conner, Nina Simone, Mel Torme and Billy Eckstine; arrangers Marty Paich, Russ Garcia and Frank Hunter; musicians Dexter Gordon, Roland Kirk, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Zoot Sims and many others. The label distinguished itself by giving elements of creative control to the artists, enabling them to experiment and flourish and also utilising cutting edge graphic design. Its legacy is a stunning discography, capturing and preserving an era of truly amazing music, including west coast cool jazz, east coast bop and some of jazz’s most distinctive vocalists. Bethlehem was eventually sold to its primary distributor King before being acquired by Salsoul in the late ‘70s and was ultimately acquired by BMG as part of its acquisition of the Verse Music Group. Includes: Nina Simone, Mel Torme, Billy Eckstine, Charles Mingus Carmen McRae, Howard McGhee, Oscar Pettiford, Ruby Braff, Eddie Shu, Chris Connor & Duke EllingtonRead more

Helen Carr was one of those singers with an innate jazz feeling, sensitive phrasing, and a warm, unaffected sound, which she skillfully used to stamp her personality at any beat and fill each performance with an inescapable atmosphere. Her career was short, and her recordings scarce, but they are still an eloquent example of how she understood a song and was able to communicate its essence to the listener.Read more