Helen Forrest
Encyclopedia
Helen Forrest was one of the most popular female jazz
vocalists during America's Big Band
era. She was born Helen Fogel to a Jewish family in Atlantic City, New Jersey
on April 12, 1917. She first sang with her brother's band at the age of 10, and later began her career singing on CBS
radio
under the name Bonnie Blue.
hired her in 1938. Shaw was looking for new talent when vocalist Billie Holiday
had to leave the band after singing with the group for a short period of time. Forrest recorded 38 singles with Shaw's band. Two of her biggest hits with Shaw were the songs "They Say" and "All the Things You Are
".
In late 1939, Forrest left Shaw and joined Benny Goodman
, with whom she recorded a number of celebrated songs, including the hit song, "The Man I Love." She told the Pop Chronicles
radio series: "Benny would look right above your eyebrows, in
the middle, right on top of the brow. He was a very strange
man."
She recorded with Nat King Cole
and Lionel Hampton
in 1940. In 1941, Forrest was hired by Harry James
. It was with the Harry James Orchestra that she recorded what are arguably her most popular numbers, including "I Had the Craziest Dream
" in 1942 and "I Don't Want to Walk Without You
." Forrest also dated James, until he met the woman he would later marry, Betty Grable
.
Because of her involvement with most of the popular bands of the big band era, Forrest was known as "the voice of the name bands."
Forrest left Harry James in late 1943 in pursuit of a solo career. From 1944 to 1947, she sang on Dick Haymes
' radio show. It was with Haymes that she recorded the song, "Some Sunday Morning
." In 1944, she made an appearance in the Esther Williams
movie Bathing Beauty
with Harry James
and his orchestra. After a dip in recording in the 1950s, Forrest sang with Tommy Dorsey's
orchestra, led by Sam Donahue
in the early 1960s. She continued to sing in supper clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. Her final album was released in 1983.
She kept singing until the early 1990s, when arthritis
forced her into retirement. Over the course of her career, she recorded more than 500 songs. Forrest acted in several musical films, including Bathing Beauty
and Two Girls and a Sailor
, which were both released in 1944.
.
Helen Forrest died from congestive heart failure
on July 11, 1999 in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 82. Her final resting place is in Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vocalists during America's Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era. She was born Helen Fogel to a Jewish family in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
on April 12, 1917. She first sang with her brother's band at the age of 10, and later began her career singing on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
under the name Bonnie Blue.
Career
Forrest first gained prominence when bandleader Artie ShawArtie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
hired her in 1938. Shaw was looking for new talent when vocalist Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
had to leave the band after singing with the group for a short period of time. Forrest recorded 38 singles with Shaw's band. Two of her biggest hits with Shaw were the songs "They Say" and "All the Things You Are
All the Things You Are
"All the Things You Are" is a song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II.It was written for the musical Very Warm for May , where it was introduced by Hiram Sherman, Frances Mercer, Hollace Shaw, and Ralph Stuart...
".
In late 1939, Forrest left Shaw and joined Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, with whom she recorded a number of celebrated songs, including the hit song, "The Man I Love." She told the Pop Chronicles
Pop Chronicles
The Pop Chronicles are two radio documentary series which together "may constitute the most complete audio history of 1940s-60s popular music." Both were produced by John Gilliland.-The Pop Chronicles of the 50s and 60s:...
radio series: "Benny would look right above your eyebrows, in
the middle, right on top of the brow. He was a very strange
man."
She recorded with Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
in 1940. In 1941, Forrest was hired by Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
. It was with the Harry James Orchestra that she recorded what are arguably her most popular numbers, including "I Had the Craziest Dream
I Had the Craziest Dream
"I Had the Craziest Dream" is a popular song.The music was written by Harry Warren, the lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song was published in 1942....
" in 1942 and "I Don't Want to Walk Without You
I Don't Want to Walk without You
"I Don't Want to Walk Without You" is a popular song.The music was written by Jule Styne, the lyrics by Frank Loesser. The song was published in 1941 and became a number one pop hit for Harry James and his orchestra in 1942. Tommy Tucker recorded the song on December 2, 1941.There have been...
." Forrest also dated James, until he met the woman he would later marry, Betty Grable
Betty Grable
Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was an American actress, dancer and singer.Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World"...
.
Because of her involvement with most of the popular bands of the big band era, Forrest was known as "the voice of the name bands."
Forrest left Harry James in late 1943 in pursuit of a solo career. From 1944 to 1947, she sang on Dick Haymes
Dick Haymes
Richard Benjamin "Dick" Haymes was an Argentine actor and one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was the older brother of Bob Haymes, who was an actor, television host, and songwriter....
' radio show. It was with Haymes that she recorded the song, "Some Sunday Morning
Some Sunday Morning
"Some Sunday Morning" is the title of two well-known American songs. The first has music written by Richard A. Whiting with lyrics by Gus Kahn and Raymond B. Egan, and was recorded by Ada Jones and Billy Murray in 1917. The second has music by M.K...
." In 1944, she made an appearance in the Esther Williams
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
movie Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty is a 1944 musical starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney.Although this was not William's screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be titled "Mr. Co-Ed" with Red Skelton having top billing...
with Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
and his orchestra. After a dip in recording in the 1950s, Forrest sang with Tommy Dorsey's
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
orchestra, led by Sam Donahue
Sam Donahue
Sam Donahue was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist, trumpeter and musical arranger. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he is probably best known for his work with Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Billy May, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and many others.He is the father of guitarist Jerry...
in the early 1960s. She continued to sing in supper clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. Her final album was released in 1983.
She kept singing until the early 1990s, when arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
forced her into retirement. Over the course of her career, she recorded more than 500 songs. Forrest acted in several musical films, including Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty
Bathing Beauty is a 1944 musical starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney.Although this was not William's screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be titled "Mr. Co-Ed" with Red Skelton having top billing...
and Two Girls and a Sailor
Two Girls and a Sailor
Two Girls and a Sailor is a 1944 musical film about two singing sisters who are helped to set up a canteen to entertain soldiers by a mysterious wealthy admirer. It featured a host of celebrity performances, including Jimmy Durante doing his hallmark "Inka Dinka Doo", Gracie Allen, and Lena Horne...
, which were both released in 1944.
Personal
Forrest married and divorced three times, and had one son, Michael Forrest Feinman, who currently resides in Lancaster, CaliforniaLancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
.
Helen Forrest died from congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
on July 11, 1999 in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 82. Her final resting place is in Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
External links
- Helen Forrest at AllMusic
- Helen Forrest - voice of the name bands