Barbara Jay, born on August 15, 1932, is a British jazz singer. Growing up in a musical family, her father played trumpet with leading bands of his time, and she naturally took to singing. By the 1960s, Jay was performing with top British jazz musicians such as Ronnie Scott and Don Lusher. In 1970, Jay sang with Benny Goodman and his orchestra on an extensive European tour, performing in major cities including Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, and Zurich. She also performed at the Carnegie Tavern in New York accompanied by Ellis Larkins. Throughout her career, Jay has collaborated with Jon Hendricks and appeared frequently with her saxophonist husband Tommy Whittle. In 1993, she devised The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Show, which was performed at major venues and festivals throughout Britain. Her notable albums include Just Friends (1997) and The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Revisited (2000).
