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American singer then record executive and sales promoter.
Born June 2, 1912 in Lorain, Ohio.
Died April 28, 1976 (age 63) in Acapulco, Mexico.

One of the busiest session singers of the late-1930's and early-40's, Bill Darnel appeared on recordings by such top-notch jazz bandleaders as Red Nichols, Bob Chester, Jimmie Lunceford and Edgar Hayes. Launching a solo career in the early-1950's, Darnel scored with remakes of Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy and M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I, featuring the harmonies of female singing group, The Heathertones. Darnel's name switched on and off between Darnell and Darnel over the years.
Darnel first attracted attention, in the mid-1930's, when he worked with alto saxophonist and bandleader, Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra. He continued to work with Lunceford until the early-1940's. He recorded with pianist Edgar Hayes, in 1937 and 1938, cornet player Red Nichols in 1940 and saxophonist Bob Chester in 1941.
Darnel was already working in sales while he was singing, preparing for his next stage. Darnel worked at Diamond Records and before that with Bert Berns at Bang Records and Shout Records. Prior to those he was with Jubilee as a recording artist then for a short stint at Paris Records. He was National Director of Sales and Promotion at All Platinum Records. Prior to that All Platinum, Next, he became General Manager of Sunburst Records, Ltd.

ALBUMS


Bill Darnel
Sixty Minute Man / Ka - Ding - Dong
1960, 7", Paris (5)
Bill Darnel
Passion Flower / Ka-Ding-Dong
1959
Bill Darnel
Sixty Minute Man / A Hundred Girls
1959
Bill Darnel
Lonely Wine / I Understand ( Just How You Feel )
1958
Bill Darnel
The Fork Of The Road / Mississippi Shoe-Shine Rag
1957
Bill Darnel
Rainbow / Do You Care
1957
Bill Darnel
Recipe For Love / Heavenly Father
1957
Bill Darnel
Rock A Boogie Baby / Guilty Lips
1956, 7", Promo, London Records
Bill Darnel
Tell Me More / Satin Doll
1956
Bill Darnel With Frank Weir And His Orchestra
My Little Mother / Tell Me More
1956
Bill Darnel with Frank Weir And His Orchestra
My Little Mother
1955, 7", Single, Tri, London Records
Bill Darnel
Bill Darnel Sings
1955, 10", Mono, "X"
Bill Darnel, The Excels (4), Sid Bass And His Orchestra
Rock And Roll Baby / A Million Thanks
1955, 7", Single, Promo, "X"
Bill Darnel And Betty Clooney
Ko Ko Mo / So All Alone
1955,
Bill Darnel
Walking On A Tight Rope / Champagne And Tears
1955
Bill Darnel
Teardrop Avenue / You Can Betcha Life
1954, 10", Promo, "X"
Bill Darnel
Teardrop Avenue / You Can Betcha Life
1954, 7", Promo, "X"
Bill Darnel And The Smith Brothers (3) With Sid Bass And His Orchestra
We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo
1954
Bill Darnel
Where Can You Be? / The Hook
1954
Bill Darnel
For You
1954
Bill Darnel
I Would If I Could But I Can't
1954
Bill Darnel
Tonight, Love / Come To Me
1953
Bill Darnel
The Game Of Love / Let Me Love You
1953
Bill Darnel
I Played The Fool / I Don't Know
1952, 7", Decca
Bill Darnel
Why Do I Cry? / I Miss You So
1952
Bill Darnel
Alone And Forsaken / Lonely Wine
1952, Shellac, ,
Country
Bill Darnel
The Blacksmith Blues / Salty Dog Rag
1952, ,
Vocal
Bill Darnel With Denny Vaughan And His Orchestra*
Possibilities / Make Me Love You (Like I Never Loved Before)
1951, Shellac, 10", Promo, Coral
Bill Darnel With Georgie Auld's Orchestra*
It Ain't Snowin' Outside
1951, 7", Coral
Bill Darnel And The Pinetoppers
Pretty Babe / And Whose Little Girl Are You!
1951
Bill Darnel With Georgie Auld's Orchestra*
You Blew Out The Flame (In My Heart) / Alarm Clock Boogie
1951
Bill Darnel
Pink Champagne / Well Oh Well
1950, 7", Single, Coral
Bill Darnel With Roy Ross And His Orchestra
River Of Smoke / I Had Trouble With You Before
1950, Shellac, 10", LA , Coral, ,
Vocal
Bill Darnel With Roy Ross And His Orchestra
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
1950
Bill Darnel
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I / Gone Fishin'
1950
Bill Darnel
You Can't Get To Heaven On Roller Skates
1950
Bill Darnel
Three Little Words / Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
1950
Bill Darnel
Sleepin' / Everybody Loves My Baby
1949, 10", Promo, Coral
Bill Darnel
Underneath The Linden Tree / Do You Miss Me (Like I Miss You To-Nite)
1949, Shellac, 10", Abbey (2)
Bill Darnell* With Babe Russin & His Orchestra
Let's Fall In Love / Walking My Baby Back Home
1946, Shellac, 10", Keynote Recordings (2)
Bob Chester And His Orchestra, Bill Darnell*, Betty Bradley
What Has Happened / Feed The Kitty
1941, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Teddy Black & His Orchestra, Bill Darnell*
Janie And Me / A Symphony In My Arms
10", Banner Records (3)
Bill Darnel
Underneath The Linden Tree
Shellac, 10", Abbey (2)
Bill Darnel, Roy Ross Orchestra*
River Of Smoke / I Had Trouble With You Before
Shellac, 10", Coral
Bill Darnel
Tonight, Love / Come To Me
10", Decca
The Stratfords
Two Lovers
1964
The Squires
Why Should I Suffer
1963, 7", Promo, Herald

APPEARANCES +


Eddie Fontaine
Who Is Eddie?
2022, 2xCDr, Comp, Mono, MP, Jasmine Records
Julie Hamelin
Smooth Road
2009, CD, Album, Julie Hamelin
Various
Jazz In The Charts 48/100 - The Sheik Of Araby (1939/3)
2006, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, Documents
Red Nichols
Wail Of The Winds
1998, CD, Comp, Mono, RM, Hep Records (3), ,
Swing
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra
1941-1945
1996, CD, Comp, Classics (11), ,
Swing/Vocal
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
1937-1938
1993, CD, Comp, Classics (11)
Eddie Fontaine
Cool It Baby
1991, CD, Comp, Musidisc, DCA (5), ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Boogie Woogie
Eddie Fontaine
"Who's Eddie?"
1989, CD, Comp, RE, Big Beat Records (3)
Various
Big Bands: Small Groups - Inside The Big Bands
1985
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
More 1940 - 1941
1984, LP, Comp, Mono, Circle
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
1940-1941
1983
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Swinging Jewels 1937 - 1939
1976, LP, Comp, MCA Coral, MCA Coral
Sharon*
Voice Of The People
1971, LP, Album, Stang Records, Stang Records
The Moments
Live At The New York State Womans Prison
1971
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Sonderpressung
1965, LP, Comp, Brunswick -- Historische Aufnahmen
Frankie Brent
More Of Everything / Bangin On The Bongo
1960
Quartetto Radar
Carosello Rock'N'Roll
1957, 7", EP, CGD, ,
Rock & Roll
Diana Decker With Eric Jupp And His Orchestra
Willie Can / Rock-A-Boogie Baby
1956
June Christy
Why Do You Have To Go Home / You're Makin' Me Crazy
1953, Shellac, ,
Vocal
Charlie Spivak And His Orchestra
Angela Mia / Paul Revere
1951, 10", Promo, London Records
Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra
I'm In A Jam (With Baby) / Buzz Buzz Buzz
1949
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Star Dust / When You And I Were Young, Maggie
1947
Red Nichols & His Orchestra* / Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra*
I Live Again / Just A Little Bit South Of North Carolina
1942, Shellac, 10", His Master's Voice
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
Till The Lights Of London Shine Again / Chilly And Cold
1941, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
Waterloo Bridge / Blue Echoes
1941, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
You're Dangerous / You Lucky People, You
1941, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
Sailboat In The Sky / No Good
1941, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
My Sister And I / Slow Down
1941
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
Oh! Look At Me Now / Dolores
1941, ,
Vocal
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
A Nickel To My Name / Not A Care In The World
1941
Al Kavelin And His Cascading Chords
Willie, Willie, Willie (Why You Cry) / I Give You My Word
1940, Shellac, 10", Okeh,
Artie Shaw & His Orchestra* / Red Nichols & His Orchestra*
It Took A Million Years / You're So Desirable
1940, Shellac, 10", His Master's Voice
Red Nichols And His Five Pennies
She Shall Have Music / Let Me Dream
1940, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Red Nichols And His Orchestra
Tears From My Inkwell / I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak
1939, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Red Nichols And His Orchestra
You're So Desirable / Our Love
1939, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Red Nichols And His Orchestra
Sassin' The Boss / Poor Loulie Jean
1939, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Red Nichols And His Orchestra
You're The Greatest Discovery / I Live Again
1939, Shellac, 10", Bluebird (3)
Edgar Hayes Quintet
Blue Skies / Sweetheart
1938, Shellac, 10", Decca
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Old King Cole / Barbary Coast Blues
1938
Edgar Hayes Quintet
I Know Now / When You And I Were Young, Maggie
1937, Shellac, 10", Decca
Frank Froeba And His Orchestra
Miles Apart / Danger, Love At Work
1937, Shellac, 10", Decca
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Old King Cole / Queen Isabella
1937
Bob Chester And His Orchestra
The Bob Chester Story
2xLP, Comp, Big Band International, ,
Big Band/Swing
Eddie Fontaine
Cool It Baby
CD, Comp, Ltd, Dig, Big Beat Records (3), ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Ballad
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra
Edgar Hayes And His Orchestra 1937-1938
Various
The Hank Williams Connection (33 Roots And Covers Of Hank Williams)
2023, CD, Comp, Bear Family Records
Various
Valentine’s Day: The Sound Of Wedding Bells (33 Tunes To Wed By)
2022, CD, Comp, Bear Family Records
Various
Dungaree Cutie
2022, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly/Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Have Yourself Another Swingin' Little Christmas (More Fingerpoppin' Tunes For Your Holiday Season)
2022, CD, ,
Big Band/Swing/Vocal/Holiday
Various
Rockin' Rollin' Covers Vol. 2
2021, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Howlin' At The Moon - The Hank Williams Songbook (And More) Volume 2 The Hillbilly Artists
2020, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Country/Honky Tonk/Hillbilly/Western Swing
Various
"Defy The Devil's Music" (Dig That Rock 'N' Roll)
2020, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records
Various
Destination Lust 2 Chicksville U.S.A.! (The World Of Love, Sex And Violence - 33 Erotic Fantasies From The Vaults)
2020, CD, Comp, Bear Family Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Swing/Cha-Cha/Latin Jazz/Cabaret/Rhythm & Blues/Easy Listening
Various
Headin’ For The Christmas Ball (31 Swing And R&B Christmas Crooners)
2020
Various
Hey Good Lookin! Everybody Sings Hank Williams
2018, CD, Comp, Jasmine Records, ,
Country/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Rock And Roll The Establishment Fights Back And Loses
2012, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, Jasmine Records, ,
Rock & Roll/Vocal
Various
Great Songs Of 1939
2010, CD, Comp, Bygone Days
Various
Music Of My Life - Golden Decade - 1951 / 1952
2008, 4xCD, Comp, Boo, Documents,
Various
Yesterday's Dreams
2005, 2xCD, Comp, Living Era, ,
Vocal
Various
The Black and White Roots of Rock and Roll
2004, 2xCD, Comp, Indigo Recordings, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Mambo Santa Mambo
2000, CD, Comp, Rhino Records (2), Rhino Records (2)
Various
Rockin' Is Not Our Business
1998, CD, Comp, Westside
Various
Rock And Roll Hits Vol.7
1997, CD, Teen-Life Records, ,
Rock & Roll
Various
Rock And Roll Hits Vol. 1
1996, CD, Teen-Life Records
Various
Best Of Blend Rock & Roll Collection Vol. IV
1995, CD, Comp, Blend (5)
Various
Teen Age Dance Party Vol 3
1990, LP, Comp, Hydra Records (2)
Various
Lucky Old Sun
1960
Various
Today's Ten Top Tunes
1957, LP, Comp, Prestige Records (14)
Various
All The Hits With All The Stars Vol. 2
LP, Comp, Schok Records, ,
Vocal/Easy Listening
Various
See You In September
7", EP, Paris (5),
Various
The American Stars Hits From The Sixties Vol. 2
LP, Comp, Unofficial, Pop, Job