Willard McDaniel (November 15, 1915 – December 13, 1961)[1] was an American jazz and blues singer and pianist.
He lived in California from the mid-1930s, where he began playing in Hollywood with Roy Milton's group, later working as a session musician at Specialty Records.
In 1958, Crown Records issued his album 88 a la Carte, with McDaniel leading a jazz trio performing standards in an easy listening style.
[1] His work is also featured on other records, including Singin' the Blues and was a member of the band Gene Phillips & His Rhythm Aces.
[3] He contributed to films such as Young Man with a Horn, Panic in the Streets and The World in His Arms.