Celebrating the Big Band Vocalist

Crooners and Canaries. Vocal Groups and Novelty Singers. Learn their stories on BandChirps, an encyclopedia of swing era band vocalists.

Swing Era Slang

Canary
A female band singer.
Chirp
General term for a vocalist.
Crooner
A male balladeer.
Novelty Singer
Vocalist who sings comedy or specialty numbers, usually a musician from the band.