Artist:Helen Forrest
Song:Time Waits For No One
Album:Hits Collection 1938-1944
During WWII, Helen Forrest was known as The Voice of the Name Bands singing with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Harry James. She wasn't as successful when she went solo in 1944. She was born Helen Fogel Apr. 12, 1917 in Atlantic City. Her father died from influenza when Helen was an infant, Her mother blamed Helen because she wanted a daughter so badly. Helen had three older brothers. After the family moved to Brooklyn, Helen's mother remarried. He turned the family home into a brothel. Then he tried to rape Helen and she stabbed him. Helen went to live with her piano teacher Honey Silverman who suggested Helen concentrate on singing. Helen at first sang with her brother's band. She eventually got a job singing on New York radio station WNEW And then in the Madrillion club in Washington. And that's where Artie Shaw saw her in 1938 right after Billie Holiday left the band. Helen recorded 38 singles with Shaw including They Say and All the Things You Are. After Shaw split up the band in 1939, Helen joined Benny Goodman's band. The Man I Love was probably her biggest hit with Goodman. But she didn't like working for him and she left in 1941 for Harry James. She was much happier with James as he built arrangements around her voice. Hits included I Had the Craziest Dream and I Don't Want to Walk Without You. Helen appeared in the 1942 film Springtime in the Rockies. After leaving James in 1943, Helen signed a record deal with Decca. Time Waits for No One was her first single as a solo artist in 1944. It reached #2 on the Hit Parade. The song was written by Cliff Friend and George Tobias for the 1944 film Shine On, Harvest Moon. Ann Sheridan performed it in the film. She was dubbed by Lynn Martin. The record was produced by Tutti Camarata. He was lead trumpeter for Jimmy Dorsey and he had just started a house producer job with Decca. Helen joined the Dick Haymes radio show on CBS. The show was successful and ten songs recorded by this duo charted. Helen continued to record solo but none of her songs were hits. Helen left the show in 1947. She also left Decca for MGM. After two years with little success, she seemed to retire. Helen recorded in 1955 with Harry James and also recorded her first solo album for Bell Records. Of course she couldn't compete with Rock 'N' Roll. Helen continued to perform in clubs. And she did big band nostalgia tours in the 70s. Helen Forrest died on July 11, 1999 at age 82. This 2CD comp from Acrobat has all her hits. Here's a video for Time Waits for No One by Helen Forrest.
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