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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMORGAN, Helen(b 1900, Danville IL; d 8 October 1941, Chicago) Singer; with Ruth Etting the biggest of the 'torch' singers of the late '20s-early '30s, popularizing the gimmick of sitting on piano while singing. She starred on Broadway in Jerome Kern's Show Boat (song 'Bill') and Sweet Adeline ('Why Was I Born?'), sang in soundtrack of film Show Boat, all '28-9; she had hit records on Victor. She was said to be an alcoholic, her personal life chaotic. A TV biopic The Helen Morgan Story starred Polly Bergen (who made excellent albums of torch songs on Columbia/CBS), then a film was made '57 with actress Ann Blyth who had to have her voice dubbed (by Gogi Grant). |