Mildred Bailey, Al Rinker, Charles Rinker, and Miles Rinker: A Musical Native American Family

When people think of Native American musical artists, Kay Starr, Link Wray, or the rock group Redbone might come to mind, but earlier in the 20th Century four remarkable music artists emerged from one family. What is more, they were siblings. Mildred Bailey, Al Rinker, Charles Rinker, and Miles Rinker each left their own mark on jazz music. 

Their mother was Josephine Rinker, a citizen of the Skitswish, also known as the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. Music ran in her family. Josephine Rinker herself played piano. Her grandfather, Bazil Peone, had been a song leader and head speaker among the Skitswish. Their father, Charles Rinker, was also musically inclined. He played fiddle and called square dances as well. It was then natural that Mildred, Al, Charles, and Miles would take up music. Mildred went with her mother to traditional Skitswish ceremonies, and learned many of the traditional songs. The family would also host get-togethers on Saturday nights on their farm near rural Tekoa, Washington for the local ranchers and farmers, with the family members providing the music. Sadly, Josephine Rinker died at age 36 from tuberculosis. Their father eventually remarried, and their stepmother did not get along with the children at all.

Mildred then left home at 17. She married and divorced a man named Ted Bailey. Given her musical background, it was inevitable that she would become a singer. She established herself as a blues and jazz singer on the West Coast before her recording career. Although she made her first recordings in the late 1920s, her first real hist was her version of "For Sentimental Reasons," which peaked at no. 18 on the singles chart in 1936. She would follow it with many more hits, including "Trust in Me (which went to no. 4 in 1937), "Where Are You (which went to no. 5 the same year), and "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" (which went to no. 8 in 1938." Her biggest hit was "So Help Me," which peaked at no. 2 in 1938. Sadly, Mildred Bailey suffered from diabetes and had problems with her health throughout her life. She died when she was only 44 from heart failure.

Al Rinker was Mildred Bailey's eldest brother, and he had as notable a career as she did. It was in 1925 that Al Rinker began performing alongside Bing Crosby and Harry Barris as The Rhythm Boys. The group had a good deal of success and even appeared in the movie King of Jazz (1930) before breaking up due to Bing Crosby's desire for a solo career. Al Rinker later created the radio show The Saturday Night Swing Club with Bob Smith and produced the show as well. Al Rinker was not only a musical performer, but a song writer as well. He wrote "You Can't Do Wrong Doin' Right" and  "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" from the movie The Aristocats (1970) with Floyd Huddleston.

Younger brother Charles Rinker would also become a songwriter. He co-wrote several songs with Gene de Paul. Miles Rinker was a saxophonist and clarinetist. He later became a booking agent. 

Although not particularly well-known today, Mildred Bailey, Al Rinker, Charles Rinker, and Miles Rinker had an impact on musical history in the early 20th Century. Indeed, without Al Rinker, Bing Crosby's career may have been very different. While their music did not draw a great deal upon Coeur d'Alene tradition, the fact that they were Native Americans at a time when there were only a few in the entertainment industry is significant. They certainly paved the way for others.