Billy Eckstine, born on July 8, 1914, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was famous for his rich and smooth baritone voice. He started his career after winning an amateur contest while studying at Howard University. From 1939 to 1943, he sang in nightclubs and with bands, eventually becoming the lead vocalist for Earl Hines’s Big Band. In 1944, he formed his own big band, featuring jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Tadd Dameron, and Art Blakey...
Besides music, he also appeared on the TV show Sanford and Son in the episode "The Stand-Ins," and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" " prior to Game 4 of the 1979 World Series at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
- Initial Broadcast: Sunday, October 25, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Repeat Broadcast: Thursday, October 29, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
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WHFR PRESENTS airs every Sunday with a rotating cast of WHFR DJs, taking in-depth looks into the many genres of music that WHFR has to offer. Tune in at 89.3 on the FM dial in Dearborn/Detroit and surrounding communities, or listen anywhere via our online streamer.
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