It’s 1937, and June Richmond steps to the microphone for Jimmy Dorsey’s big band. Doing so, she makes history as the first Black singer in an all-white orchestra. Richman caught the attention of Dorsey and Bing Crosby during a set at the Los Angeles Cotton Club. They invited her to their table, made Richmond an offer, and two rehearsals later she was performing on Bing’s radio show.
Richmond’s strong, bluesy vocals and friendly, energetic stage presence was a hit with critics and audiences alike. Almost as popular was her sense of humor. When the press described her as “portly” for tipping the scales at over 220 pounds, she used it to her advantage. Her self-deprecating fat jokes became a part of her persona.
Her popularity, unfortunately, didn’t shield her from prejudice. Just a year into her tenure with Jimmy Dorsey, the press reported on an “unpleasantness” between Richmond and the Hotel New Yorker, where the Dorsey band was playing. The exact circumstances were never disclosed, but it is accepted that the incident led to Richmond leaving the band soon after.
She sang with Cab Calloway for a time, then enjoyed a lengthy stint with Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy before transitioning to Broadway and movie musicals. She remained a darling with the press. One critic wrote, “whatever she does, June Richmond paves the way. Without her, there wouldn’t be Billie Holiday or any other Black singers. She’s not breaking the mold; she made the mold.”
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