Ann Richards & Stan Kenton

Ann Richards was a better singer than she was often given credit for, but her career fell short of its potential. She was self-taught on piano and started taking singing lessons when she was ten. Richards began singing professionally in the San Francisco Bay area and played a short stint with Charlie Barnet. She joined Stan Kenton's band for a few months in 1955; they were married and she was a part-time singer throughout their marriage (which lasted until 1961). Richards recorded a few pleasing and swinging albums on her own for Capitol, Atco, and Vee Jay. She died by suicide...