Edna McGriff

Edna McGriff (born August 11, 1934, Queens, New York, died April 20, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues singer popular in the 1950s. McGriff achieved moderate success with singles such as "Heavenly Angel" (1955) and "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" (1958), a secularized version of the traditional gospel song. Her musical style blended elements of doo-wop, rhythm and blues, and early rock and roll. Despite not achieving mainstream superstar status, she remains a notable figure in the early history of rock and roll and rhythm and blues music, reflecting the transitional period between those genres. Her later life was marked by challenges, and she died relatively young.