William Boone Daniels (September 12, 1915 â€" October 7, 1988), better
known as Billy Daniels, was an American singer active in the United
States and Europe from the mid-1930s to 1988, notable for his hit
recording of "That Old Black Magic" and his pioneering performances on
early 1950s television. He was one of the first African-American
entertainers to cross over into the mainstream. Daniels was honored
with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977.Daniels was born in
Jacksonville, Florida, United States. where his father was a
postmaster and notary. His mother was a schoolteacher and organist.
Daniels had a heritage of Portuguese sailor, Native American
(Choctaw), African American, and frontiersman Daniel Boone.In 1935,
Daniels moved from Jacksonville to New York to attend Columbia
University. He planned to become a lawyer, but he was sidetracked
during the Depression. His grandmother was a seamstress in Harlem for
the Ziegfeld Follies, and she encouraged her grandson to sing at
Dickie Wells, the club where he first worked as a dishwasher, then a
singing waiter. There he was discovered by bandleader Erskine Hawkins,
who hired him as a featured vocalist. He toured with the Erskine
Hawkins Band in 1935â€"36 and then returned to Harlem. Throughout
1938, he sang daily on New York radio for 12 different sponsors. "It
was me or the horse racing," Daniels remarked.Daniels performed
frequently at nightclubs on New York's 52nd Street, where he was one
of the first singers to leave the big-band scene and pursue a solo
career. He sometimes made three 52nd Street club performances per
night. In 1945, he played intermission with Charlie Parker at the
Spotlite Club on 52nd Street.
known as Billy Daniels, was an American singer active in the United
States and Europe from the mid-1930s to 1988, notable for his hit
recording of "That Old Black Magic" and his pioneering performances on
early 1950s television. He was one of the first African-American
entertainers to cross over into the mainstream. Daniels was honored
with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1977.Daniels was born in
Jacksonville, Florida, United States. where his father was a
postmaster and notary. His mother was a schoolteacher and organist.
Daniels had a heritage of Portuguese sailor, Native American
(Choctaw), African American, and frontiersman Daniel Boone.In 1935,
Daniels moved from Jacksonville to New York to attend Columbia
University. He planned to become a lawyer, but he was sidetracked
during the Depression. His grandmother was a seamstress in Harlem for
the Ziegfeld Follies, and she encouraged her grandson to sing at
Dickie Wells, the club where he first worked as a dishwasher, then a
singing waiter. There he was discovered by bandleader Erskine Hawkins,
who hired him as a featured vocalist. He toured with the Erskine
Hawkins Band in 1935â€"36 and then returned to Harlem. Throughout
1938, he sang daily on New York radio for 12 different sponsors. "It
was me or the horse racing," Daniels remarked.Daniels performed
frequently at nightclubs on New York's 52nd Street, where he was one
of the first singers to leave the big-band scene and pursue a solo
career. He sometimes made three 52nd Street club performances per
night. In 1945, he played intermission with Charlie Parker at the
Spotlite Club on 52nd Street.
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