The extraordinary singer and actress Ethel Waters and New York City's Plantation Club Orchestra recorded "Dinah" (Harry Akst - Joe Young - Sam Lewis) in 1925 and reached number two in the U.S.. Ethel was nominated for an Academy Award and was the first female "African-American" to be nominated for an Emmy. Her life story is fascinating.

In late 1931 Bing (Harry) Crosby was an impromptu surprise at a Mills Brothers (John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald), recording session. The y decided to sing "Dinah" together and all present were so impressed it was recorded then and there. Less than a month later Bing Crosby and The Mills Brothers topped the charts with "Dinah". The song charted ten times over a twenty year period but none topped the Bing Crosby and The Mills Brothers version.