He started his music career as a singer with the U.S. Army band during World War II while stationed in Europe.
Dinah Washington, after an evening of performing, went into a Harlem night club to hear Mapp sing at his debut, and she adopted him as her protégé, encouraged him to continue singing and writing songs, and helped him start his career as a soloist and big-band musician.
[1] In the same obituary, Norman Mapp was quoted from a previous Newsday interview in 1986 as saying he "never regretted making music his career...because it brought him a wealth of experience, plus the opportunity to know and work with people such as Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Sy Oliver."
[2] Mapp's songs include "Jazz Ain't Nothin' but Soul", "I Worry 'Bout You", "Mr.
His songs were performed by Count Basie, Betty Carter, Marvin Gaye, Gigi Gryce, Peggy Lee, and Arthur Prysock.