Barbara Jean McNair, born on March 4, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American singer and actress. She began singing in school productions and church services before studying music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and later briefly attended UCLA. In the late 1950s, she began performing in nightclubs, and her debut single, “Till There Was You” (1958), released by Coral Records, achieved commercial success. She toured internationally, including with Nat King Cole, and appeared in his Broadway stage shows, I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole, in the early 1960s. Her album releases included Front Row Center (1959) and Here I Am (1966). By the 1970s, she transitioned to acting, appearing in films such as They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and its sequel, The Organization (1971). In her later years, she returned to performing in nightclubs and on cruise ships. She passed away on February 4, 2007, in Los Angeles, California, after a battle with throat cancer.