Bing & Mildred

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Singers Bing Crosby and Mildred Bailey shared humble beginnings in Spokane's jazz scene. Bailey was singing the blues in a popular Los Angeles speakeasy when her brother, Al Rinker, lured Crosby into his Spokane band. Eventually, both Rinker and Crosby joined Paul Whiteman's famous orchestra, and Bailey became its vocalist - the first female singer in a major orchestra. She helped integrate the music world when the Benny Goodman Trio formed at one of her parties; it later became the first mixed-race recording group to receive national recognition. Meanwhile, Crosby's mellifluous voice allowed him to reach audiences through film, radio and eventually television.

MAC 100 Stories: A Centennial Exhibition is told on the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture campus in Spokane's Browne's Addition, with additional highlights at 15 sites in Spokane and eastern Washington. The exhibit experience (February 22, 2014 - January 2016) weaves stories and programs about Inland Northwest people, places and events by capitalizing on the MAC's extraordinary collection. www.northwestmuseum.org

Spokane Historical presents 15 regional and city tours in partnership with the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture and its 100 Stories exhibition.