Biography of Al Hibbler

Blind vocalist who worked with Duke Ellington's orchestra for eight years before waxing a series of stately pop ballads in the mid 50s. Hibbler debuted in 1942 with Kansas City pianist Jay McShann's combo for Decca before joining Ellington the next year. Hibbler was on the R&B charts four times from 1948 to 1951 for major independent labels like Chess and Atlantic, but he signed with Decca and crossed over to the pop lists in 1955, battling Roy Hamilton for top honors on "Unchained Melody." The deep-voiced Hibbler encored with the inspirational "He" and the blues-tinged "After the Lights Go Down Low," retaining his reputation as one of the jazz world's leading vocalists. ~ Bill Dahl