Her Nibs

Miss Georgia Gibbs (August 17, 1917 - December 9, 2006)

This big-voiced songstress racked up an impressive string of hits in the 1950's, and specialized in melodramatic ballads ("Kiss of Fire") and torch songs ("Happiness is a Thing Called Joe"). Unfortunately, she's forever stigmatized as the white singer who "stole" songs from Etta James ("Dance with Me, Henry") and Ruth Brown ("Tweedle Dee"). For some reason, Gibbs became the scapegoat for this then-common practice of "whitewashing" R&B hits for the pop market -- Elvis' "Hound Dog," for instance, was originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton; and Peggy Lee adapted "Fever" from Little Willie John. And unlike some truly dreadful offerings, such as Pat Boone's "Tutti Frutti" or Gale "My Little Margie" Storm's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," Gibbs' natural musicality and rhythm make her R&B covers fun, listenable and, yes, credible.

Long overdue for a career renaissance and appreciation, Her Nibs passed away from leukemia at the age of 87.