Dakota Staton

Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No. 4 hit "The Late, Late Show". She was also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to Islam as interpreted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Dakota Staton Sings Ballads and the Blues is one of my favorite compilations! It has 12 tracks from "Dakota" recorded in 1960 and 12 tracks "Dakota Staton Sings Ballads and the Blues recorded in 1959, with 2 bonus tracks ("On Chapel Hill," and "Porgy") with the Norman Simmon's Orchestra and great liner notes.

One of Dakota Staton's early albums, DYNAMIC! definitely lives up to the promise of it's title. With some magical arrangements from Sid Feller, Ms. Staton riffs her way through a selection of jazz and theatre standards, stamping each and every one with her unique brand of musical showmanship.

Dakota is in her prime backed by the orchestra of Sid Feller (famed for his work with Ray Charles); you get her 1959 LP plus five bonus cuts, all new to CD: Avalon; Detour Ahead; Let Me Know; But Not for Me; Gone with the Wind , and more!

Recorded in 1959, this is one of Dakota Staton's most consistently pleasing albums.

Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No. 4 hit "The Late, Late Show".

Dakota Staton (June 3, 1930 – April 10, 2007) was an American jazz vocalist who found international acclaim with the 1957 No. 4 hit "The Late, Late Show". She was also known by the Muslim name Aliyah Rabia for a period due to her conversion to Islam as interpreted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

This two-fer reissue features a pair of out of print Dakota Staton LPs: "Softly" and "Round Midnight", both originally issued on Capitol Records in 1960 and 1961, respectively. Highlights among the 24 pop standards include "The Folks Who Live on the Hill", "The Very Thought of You", and "I Can't Get Started". This is a nice sampler of familiar items that should satisfy the needs of casual fans.

Dakota Staton Described by influential critic Leonard Feather as "a dynamic song stylist recalling at times elements of Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan," Dakota Staton never enjoyed the widespread acclaim or commercial success of her reference points, but she remains one of the most soulful and commanding jazz singers of the postwar era. Born outside of Pittsburgh on June 3, 1930, Staton began singing and dancing as a child, later attending the Filion School of Music. At 16, she starred in the stage show Fantastic Rhythm and two years later joined local bandleader Joe Wespray. From there, Staton headlined a lengthy residency at Detroit's landmark Flame Show Bar, followed by years traveling the Midwest club circuit.