Bill Darnel (aka Darnell) (January 1st, 1920 - ?) 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.
Darnel was born in Loraine, Ohio in 1920 and first attracted attention, in the mid-1930's, when he worked with alto saxophonist and bandleader, Jimmie Lunceford and his orchestra. He continued to work with Lunceford until the early-1940's. He recorded with pianist Edgar Hayes, in 1937 and 1938, cornet player Red Nichols in 1940 and saxophonist Bob Chester in 1941.
Launching a solo career in the early-1950's, Darnel scored with remakes of "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy" and "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I", featuring the harmonies of female singing group, The Heathertones. There are Billboard references of his appearance at various venues and that he appeared twice at Chubby’s Café in Camden, New Jersey during January 1950.
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.
It seems his last recording was for the Paris label in 1959 after which there is no more information regarding Mr. Darnel. I cannot believe that he retired at the age of 39. If he succumbed to the club circuit then there is no press information to back up that theory. It seems incredible that someone who was a prolific recording artist can just slip through the net, but alas that is the fate of so many past singers and bands who deserve much more than a few lines to remember them by.
(Sources AllMusic, DAHR, BNF and rocknroll-schallplatten-forum)
Please Note:
https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/352695/Darnell_Bill?Matrix_page=100000 – gives birth date as 1st January 1920 and also gives surname as Darnell.
https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139634664 – gives birth date as 20 June 1920.