Billy Eckstine biography

Profile

Billy Eckstine was born July 8, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eckstine left Howard University after winning an amateur singing competition in 1933. His first big job came as the singer for Earl Hines's band in the late 1930's and early 1940's.When he decided to start his own band, Eckstine embraced many up and coming stars, like Charlie Parker and Art Blakey, with the new bebop style.