Here is the biography of Helen Forrest:
Helen Forrest, born Helen Fogel, was a renowned American jazz and blues vocalist. She began singing at a young age, listening to recordings by prominent female jazz and blues vocalists of the time. By the age of ten, she was competing in dance marathons and singing with her brother's band in Washington, D.C.
Helen's professional career took off when she was hired by CBS radio and WNEW (New York) as a salaried employee, singing under various pseudonyms. Her impressive performance with the Bunny Berigan orchestra caught the attention of Artie Shaw, who promptly hired her as his main female vocalist.
During her time with Shaw, Helen recorded numerous hits, including "They Say" and "Thanks for Everything," which reached number one on the U.S. charts. She became a national favorite, known for her warm and emotive voice, which brought a unique "girl-next-door" quality to her songs.
After Shaw disbanded his orchestra, Helen joined Benny Goodman's band, where she made 54 recordings, including "How High The Moon" and "Taking A Chance On Love." However, she eventually left Goodman due to his abusive behavior and joined Harry James' band, where she became a key component of the orchestra's sound.
With James, Helen recorded several top hits, including "Skylark" and "I Don't Want To Walk Without You." She also appeared in several films, including "Springtime in the Rockies," and showcased her talents in various motion pictures.
Helen continued to work as a free-lancer, performing in clubs and theatres, and teaming up with Dick Haymes for a popular radio show. Although she became less active as a recording artist as the big band era drew to a close, she briefly rejoined Harry James' orchestra in 1955 to record some of their earlier hits.
In the early 1960s, Helen went on tour with the Sam Donahue-led orchestra of Tommy Dorsey, and later with Frank Sinatra. She suffered a stroke in 1980, but continued to work on her final album, "Now and Forever," released in 1983. Rheumatoid arthritis eventually forced her retirement, and she passed away in July 1999 at the age of 82.
