Earl Grant

A versatile performer proficient on piano and organ as well as in vocals, Earl Grant operated as a triple-threat entertainer. His output largely resided within light pop and jazz-schmaltz territories, yet he managed to land two R&B hits spanning the late '50s into the early '60s, the standout of which was "Sweet Sixteen Bars" in 1962. It reached number nine on the R&B charts. Before that, "The End" served as his sole pop hit, a smash that reached number seven in 1958. Grant also featured in the films Tender Is the Night, Imitation of Life, and Tokyo Night. He was killed in 1970 in a car wreck at age 37.