Born in Mississippi in 1915, Al Hibbler, was a baritone vocalist whose career transcended the divide between big band jazz, rhythm and blues and sophisticated pop.

Blind from birth, Hibbler began working as a blues singer in local bands, winning an amateur talent contest in Memphis. Given a start with Dub Jenkins and his Playmates, he later joined a band led by Jay McShann in 1942, and the following year joined Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, replacing Herb Jeffries.

As vocalist with Ellington, he recorded memorable hits and stayed with the bandleader until 1951, but along the way forged a career as a solo recording artist, enjoying a string of R&B and pop hits, both in the USA and the UK. This 75-track collection includes most of his A- and B-sides on the Aladdin, Sunrise/Miracle, Chess, Atlantic, Mercury/Clef/Norgran and Decca labels during this era.

It includes all his solo career chart entries, most notably his US No.3, R&B No.1 and UK No.2 in 1955 with Unchained Melody and his US pop Top 10 hits with He and After The Lights Go Down Low, plus Top 10 R&B hits with Trees, Lover Come Back To Me, Danny Boy and What Will I Tell My Heart.

REVIEWS

Al Hibbler sang with Duke Ellington before having several pop hits as a solo artist. Some of Hibbler's singing is classified as R&B, however he is best seen as a bridge between R&B and popular music. Hibbler is not usually identified as a jazz singer but as an outstandingly good interpreter of 20th-century popular songs who also happened to work with some of the best jazz musicians of the time. This big-value three CD set has 75 sides. While not much here to interest the average B&R reader, if you can appreciate a top-quality interpreter of popular songs - and a decent blues singer when he got a chance - then this set is worth investigating.  - Phil Wight (Blues & Rhythm June 2021)

The 75 tracks on offer here make for some very worthwhile listening, particularly the first two discs which contains music that has not been available for a very long time. - Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 352)

A whole lot of Hibbler, welcome for sure - Peter Vacher (Jazzwise Issue 264)

Very popular in the 1940s and 1950s, Al Hibbler worked in pop music, in early R&B and on the fringes of jazz. His voice, rich, fluid and warm, has a distinctive and usually wide vibrato, a vocal characteristic what can add emotional intensity to a singer's interpretation of the story told by a song's lyrics.Stylistically, Hibbler is not a jazz singer but he should appeal to many readers, especially when several Ellingtonians have solo moments... - Bruce Crowther (Jazz Journal June 2021)

Al Hibbler occupies a unique place in American popular music, and this substantial and comprehensive overview of his primary career as a chart-focused artist provides an enjoyable showcase for his smooth and distinctive vocal style. - Pete Lay (Just Jazz Issue 279)