Darla Daret (later Darla Daret Stevens) of Los Angeles was a singer with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. As a solo performer, however, she began recording rock and roll and teen-oriented pop—including songs she wrote herself. Several of her sides for Swan Records in 1959 are under the pseudonym “Patty Saturday.”
Dillard, Varetta
Varetta Dillard was born in Harlem and attended Morris High School in the Bronx. Dillard’s popularity arose through her appearances on the Apollo’s “Amateur Night in Harlem” show beginning in the 1940s. New Jersey-based Savoy Records signed the promising young singer in 1951, and she quickly did well for the label. She was most famous for “Easy, Easy Baby,” (1952) and “Mercy, Mr. Percy” (1953), both of which performed well on the R&B charts and helped to raise her national profile.
Dixon, Helene
Dixon started her career in music largely by entering competitions, including scoring an appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. She went on tour with comedian and country performer Red Ingle, and then she landed work at the Copacabana in New York City. While at the Copa, Dixon met and worked with bandleader and arranger Phil Moore—known as the “starmaker” for his help in providing musical training for stars including Betty Grable, Lena Horne, and Marilyn Monroe.