Roy Kral
b. 10 October 1921, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Kral played piano and sang alone and in small groups until, in the mid-40s, he met singer Jackie Cain (b. 22 May 1928, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA). Together, Kral and Cain became very popular, working as Jackie And Roy. They joined Charlie Ventura's ‘Bop for the People’ band for which Kral also played piano and contributed arrangements. In 1949, Kral and Cain quit Ventura, were married, and continued to perform as a duo throughout the '50s. In the '60s Kral was active in the studios but they frequently performed together, recording on into the late '80s. Apart from interesting and duly deferential interpretations of the great standards, Kral and Cain are noted for their vibrant enthusiasm, the sparkling audacity of their bop styling and their use of vocalese. Kral has also performed with his sister, the singer Irene Kral.