Helen Forrest

Helen Forrest April 12 1917 July 11 1999 was one of the most popular female jazz vocalists during Americas 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 brothers band at the age of 10 and later began her career singing on CBS radio under the name Bonnie Blue Forrest achieved fame when bandleader Artie Shaw 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 Shaws 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 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 Dont Want to Walk Without You Forrest also dated James until he met the woman he would later marry Betty Grable