Bill Darnel born 1 January 1920

 Bill Darnel (aka Darnell) (January 1st, 1920 -  April, 28, 1976) was one of the busiest session singers whose recordings span from the late-1930's to the late 50’s, yet hardly any mention of him on the internet. 

A native of Lorain, Ohio, Bill Darnell worked as a grocery store butcher before becoming a professional singer in the late 1930s, when he worked with alto saxophonist and bandleader, Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra. 

He recorded with pianist Edgar Hayes, in 1937 and 1938, cornet player Red Nichols in 1938 and saxophonist Bob Chester in 1940.  Unfortunately, he received his draft notice in March 1941, and he was off to the army. Darnell received a medical discharge in late 1944 and quickly tried to get back on his feet again in the music business, recording with Jimmy Lunceford’s band for Decca in January 1945. In 1948, he spent time with Kay Kyser’s orchestra but soon went back to being a single again, recording on the Abbey label later that year. His Abbey singles featured organ accompaniment. That year he also began spelling his last name “Darnel,” with only one “l.”

Luck began to change for Darnel in 1949 when he signed with Coral in what was his first term contract with any recording company. He remained with Coral into 1951, selling records and gaining fans but never achieving a hit. In late 1951, he moved to Decca, where he had his biggest successes in 1952, with “Lonely Wine” selling 250,000 copies and “Tonight, Love” 350,000.

                              

After leaving Decca / Coral in 1953 he signed for the Vik & "X" labels which were subsidiaries of RCA. He recorded two E.P.’s for the Vik label in 1954 which were issued as an album in 1955 on the “X” label.

In 1955, the spelling of Darnel’s last name began to vary between one “l” and two. By the late 1950s, “Darnell” was again the standard spelling. In late 1955, he signed with Rex, another new label, founded by former bandleader Joe Marsala, where he was again slated to record the first release. In 1956, he recorded on the London label, and in 1957 he signed with Jubilee, where by 1958 he had also assumed the role of sales chief for the label’s parent organization, Jay-Gee Record Company, owned by another former bandleader, Jerry Blaine.

Darnell recorded on the Paris label in 1959. In 1960, he partnered with Sy Stewart to form a personnel management firm and a music publishing business, but by 1963 he was back singing again. In 1967, Darnell became head of national promotions for the Bang and Shout record company, leaving in mid-1968 for the same job at Diamond Records. 

In 1970, he headed promotion for All Platinum and Stang, where he remained until at least 1973. He was director of special projects for TK Records in April 1976 when he tragically lost his life, drowning off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico. Caught in the undertow while swimming, he was dragged too far away from shore to swim back.

(Sources Band Chiprs & AllMusic) (other sources gives birthday as 10th and 20th  June)