In 1939, the first integrated all women’s jazz band, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm from Piney Woods, Mississippi came to Evelyn’s town. The band director was persuaded to let Evelyn sing and when they left town, the Sweethearts had a new member. She went on to become the featured vocalist of the band for several years. On tour with the Sweethearts in Germany during WWII, she met and married William Neal Jr. the father of her two children. They divorced in the early 1970’s and a few years later she married Jesse Stone, a noted songwriter and one time musical director of the Sweethearts. Together they shared a happy marriage and as the Stone Duo, a successful career in the New York tri-state area that thrived for many years. The photo is approximately 8″x10″.

NOTE: Any lack of focus in this photo is present in the original image.

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