U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 8

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 8

WASHINGTON, July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8: BILLY ECKSTINE

Profile America -- Wednesday, July 8th. Today marks the birthday of an influential singer and bandleader who is now largely forgotten -- Billy Eckstine. After years as a vocalist, he formed his own band in 1944, the first big band to feature the new jazz variant, called Bop. The band headlined a "who's who" of future jazz stars, including Dizzy Gillispie, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker, as well as singer Sarah Vaughn. Eckstine also recorded a number of vocal hits, with his rich baritone, and even invented a popular, widely-flared shirt collar, known as the "Mr. B. Collar." Bop recordings are still among the classics bought by jazz fans -- who purchase about 3 percent of recordings each year. Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau, now preparing for the 2010 Census.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 352
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1103

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/ (look under the "Newsroom" button).

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

CONTACT: Rick Reed of the U.S. Census Bureau, +1-301-763-2812, fax:
+1-301-763-3762, Richard.Thomas.Reed-at-census.gov

Web Site: http://www.census.gov/

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