Helen Forrest with The Artie Shaw Orchestra

Helen Forrest (born Helen Fogel, April 12, 1917 - July 11, 1999) was an American singer of traditional pop and swing music. She served as the "girl singer" for three of the most popular big bands of the Swing Era (Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Harry James), thereby earning a reputation as "the voice of the name bands."

[@josephmurano112]

In four days I will be 96 years old . This is my kind of music. My wife insisted I learn to dance before we married. I lost her this past May. How I wish she were here now . My legs are not so good now but boy would like to dance to this music.Thanks for posting

[@jamesmorgan9448]

God bless you Mr Murano, so sorry about your wife, I feel the same about this music, I'm only 61 but wish I lived through those great big band days. At least we have these great recordings. Take care

[@jamesmorgan9448]

Oh, and Happy birthday 🎂🎉!

[@pathetictroll7557]

Hi Joseph, I hope you are still jitterbugging!

[@geezergonewile]

Be assured that we lived during the very best musical Era that there ever was! Still can't get enough of the Big Bands. Keep on dancing!

[@wardharrah55]

Happy Belated Birthday Sir...and my deepest condolences for the loss of your wife...in comparison I'm just a "kid" at 49...my wife and I will celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, and like you I'm lucky to be married to my best friend. I always tell everyone I was born 50 years to late, but I have a 17 piece orchestra that tours the eastern U.S. and we do our part to keep this music alive! The Big Band Era was truly the best music that ever was, is, and will be!!! God Speed Mr. Murano!!!

[@cstuart5638]

I was only born in 2008, but it is this kind of music that has the soul, unlike today’s music. Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole and Artie Shaw give so much joy to the world, even now.

[@ronaldstrange8981]

Born in 1936, so I grew up with this wonderful music. Such a thrill to have so much of this precious material still available on the internet. It brings back so many happy memories. Kind regards to all "big band" fans. Please keep on listening, recommending and enjoying. We will keep this music well and truly alive. England, August, 2023.

[@earllutz2663]

I am only 75 having been born in 1948 but my father raised me on the Big Bands of his time. I have played in numerous bands myself but like other comments I do sometimes wish to have come along when the Big Bands were popular. I enjoy so many of them and particularly liked Helen Forest who I always thought was very pretty and in addition could sing just as pretty as she herself was.

[@jeromewegand4785]

'THIRD TIME I WAS MESMERIZED FROM START TO END WITH THIS VIDEO ! SHAW AND GOODMAN WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO INVEST IN HIGH FIDELITY RECORDING. THIS IS BROADCAST QUALITY NEARLY 85 YEARS LATER ! THANK KZbin FOR KEEPING IT ADD FREE !!!

[@VoklstWestie]

So Glad I drove my dad, when he was alive, several times from Orland Park, IL to Highland Park, IL to Ravinia Fest for Fathers Day to see Doc Severinsen, Helen Forrest, Tex Beneke, They put on a Great Show Every Year!!

[@gplunk]

I'm an old rocker by nature; but gotta heart of swing....

[@paulgardner6239]

Loving Helen Forrest and her blending with the swing of Artie Shaw's orchestra. Great stuff.

[@libertyann439]

This isn't just music, it's magic🪄

[@drewsagar2634]

Well said, it sure is

[@lowgascostsorangeman2688]

I just learned about Helen Forest in my late 60's and I'm in love again. It's contemporary music for me and how lovely. Can't stand with what they call music nowadays because music reflects the soul and this was the SOUL of the greatest generation.

[@juliemacandrews1434]

Listen to Margaret whiting..jo Stafford.. 😍😍

[@brianoyler4777]

Ay caramb...any lyrics and "music" which has to rely on obscenities for listeners and audience is not music to me. Give me Helen Forrest and Artie Shaw ans day....

[@runningwild1055]

@@juliemacandrews1434 ...... They were great too but Helen is still my favorite of all the Big Band vocalists.

[@user-sr4xt3xr4h]

Я читаю комментарии людей, которые написаны на английском чзыке, но как же я поримаю восторг и восхищение прекрамнвм голосом Хелен и этой волшебной музыкой! Будьте счастливы, друзья! ❤

[@lowgascostsorangeman2688]

Helen Forrest: A rare kind of beauty and an angelic voice.

[@richard526]

Thanks to KZbin and whoever posted these beautiful songs. It literally has made my 84 year old mind to enjoy my life and my memories.

[@nancyvalle2807]

..spent a memorable evening here in Madison WI back in the - I think - '80s. at a performance of Helen Forrest and Jane(Russell)..and another I can't remember who - maybe Tilton - loved it - afterward, we saw them standing waiting outside the theater for their charter bus taking them on to another stop in the upper Midwest; I have that memory as one hard to forget. So much a part of my life this music and people

[@joseluisvargasjimenez4947]

The Best Time of our civilization...today the worst.This music is simply the Best and Helen superb

[@drewsagar2634]

To paraphrase Dickens it may always be said " it was the best of times it was the worst of times, it was an age of wisdom it was an age of foolishness"

[@vHumboldt77]

Well, I wouldn't consider the best time of our civilization a time in which 60 million people were killed in a devastating war. It's true, though, and on that I will agree, that many things were in far better state than today, including music, fashion or cinema, no doubt about it.

[@samuelmartinezmartinez61]

Hermosa Helen Forrest

[@samuelmartinezmartinez61]

Artie Shaw grandiosa banda🏆🎹🎷🎺🎙️📀💎

[@warrenchambers4819]

If you feel these tunes you are a true old soul and that is special. Love this stuff always have and I'm just over 50.

[@user-ft3cj7gv2x]

The music is tremendous

[@davidwise9487]

Magical.Enchanting.. Romantic Speaks to the Heart.. Thanks to you Artie Shaw and Helen Forrest for what you’ve given to the world.. Great band. Lyrics.Songs.. Thank you for Everything!

[@jamesodonnell6399]

The happy go lucky times when all folks had was music ,and what music this era served up one after an other class artists contributed , different world then a world full of class acts class people ,what a joy for the memories ,the stars are going too shine this evening at what time around s quarter too nine Priceless

[@larrysmith1201]

In 1943 My 3 brothers were in Marine Corpus and they probably heard this music because when they returned home they played it on radio and A Record player

[@dominicpastore2679]

She was the greatest band singer

[@noraluzcalugas2731]

Big Band Sounds, Artie Shaw!🎺🛡️🌐🎼

[@jeromewegand4785]

I'M JUST 65 AND SHOULD BE A ROCK N ROLLER, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN "OLD SOUL".

[@russellwindle3847]

I've always loved Helen Forrest's voice.

[@vHumboldt77]

To high-pitch and nasal for my taste. Other singers of the time, including Helen O'Donnell or Jo Stafford, had more beautiful voices.

[@russellwindle3847]

@@vHumboldt77 To each his own. To me Helen O' Connell had a flat nasal voice which was suitable for swing songs nothing else.. Jimmy Dorsey should have never signed her to sing with his band. I like Jo Stafford's later work.

[@KaraLey98]

@@vHumboldt77 Loved Annette Hanshaw and Ruth Etting but they were before Helen.🎺🎶

[@CarlosRodriguez-so8go]

Espléndido

[@CarlosRodriguez-so8go]

Maravilloso

[@reverendhowardboyer3960]

Oh wow Helen Forest great singer 1940s sing jazz bands my escape bubble with all the popular groups then and holding your love your woman close to dance that was the greatest

[@Amberpreston-qv9by]

ITS CRAZY HOW FAST THINGS CHANGE, THIS WASN'T THAT LONG AGO AND WOW HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED

[@manuelaffonso2191]

When music was music. 🎷🎷

[@jongilchrist7229]

I love all the female vocalists, Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Billie Holiday. etc in the big swing bands. I think that big band swing should come in fashion with young people. It's just got such a great beat.Just imagine all the rockers dashing out and buying saxophones, slushpumps and clarinets and learning this stuff. Bring dancing back too.

[@nunyabiz-]

This music is very popular and listened to by young folks... just not commercialized and industry glamorized (thank goodness) ! Quality is hard to extinguish and crap doesn't age well...and every era has it's crap ! 🌞

[@jeromewegand4785]

IT WAS THE HALCYON AGE OF POPULAR SONG WRITING ! HELEN FOREST POURED HER WHOLE BEING INTO HER SINGING, BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY AND APPROACHABLE !

[@kfl611]

And when she started to sing I think she was really young, like really young. Like 17 years old, but you would have never know it by how she put so much emotion into how she sang.

[@BetteStewart]

You are Special I understand how you feel when you hear your favorite music and remember who you danced with. A favorite of mine is Green Dolphin Street.

[@johnhowieson3559]

@hey Joseph, congratulations there just around that corner! I’m born in 1954 (49 now!) my mom fed me the best music in her days. That and remember The Sting? Well I’ve played it since that, I’ve played it, including on the piano! Love you man! John near Belleville, Ontario, Canada on the Piano ❤

[@matthewproser6389]

These tunes sure make you happy and romantic, a considerable feat since WWII was blazing on and at first we weren’t winning. But these folks were some of the best of the best - a bloody joy at all times. Enjoy!

[@kyleb1212]

This is such great music..I grew up listening the best jazz ever composed I was lucky to have an uncle who played and traveled with Duke Ellington and he also played with the Nelson Riddle band..great tunes at a time when the country United behind one cause. !!!! For my uncle Joe Scott....

[@voicegirl555]

Happy Happy Birthday Helen Forrest one of the BEST of the BIG BAND singers. I wish I lived back then so I could see you with Harry and Arite and listen to all that great music and songs. Thank goodness for records!

[@jamesgodfrey7688]

Beauty and talent can't get better!

[@elisabetyyy8260]

Hermosa música!! Recuerdo esas grandes orquestas con respeto y admiración !! Me hubiera gustado haber vivido en la época d su apogeo. Escucharlas es un deleite para mi espíritu.

[@deelandaguirre8282]

Helen Forrest Maravillosa Voz de los 40

[@johnpickering4579]

Thanks for posting this, this artifact of a band packed top to bottom with great musicianship and this singer and the incomparable Artie Shaw, the true genius of swing I say

[@carlcleary548]

Great love it thank y’all

[@samuelmartinezmartinez61]

Gran, grandiosa música, soy un amante de estas joyas musicales que rebasan cualquier género universal gracias por proyectar estos tesoros..

[@user-mm1mp9wf2s]

Прекрасный crystal chorus, не так ли? А музыка в исполнении Хелен Форест просто чарующая. Спасибо блогеру за историческую память о лучших в джазе...

[@consueloramirez5123]

Que maravilla es entrar al túnel del tiempo, con estas melodías tan hermosas !! Yo tenía 6 añitos y ya las escuchaba Muchas gracias 👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻❤️🌹🤩

[@victordanielfernandez7449]

Todo un encanto,la maravillosa banda de Artie y la fascinante voz de este angel que es Hellen Forrest.Gracias !

[@victormiranda.123]

Mi Cantante y Orquesta!!!!! Favorita de ésos años Maravillosos......

[@carmenabellan4165]

Me ha gustado mucho. Gracias por compartir ☺️😘🙋🏽‍♀️

[@jcb5782]

I’m glad my high school arts textbook covered swing music, cause that’s what it is. It’s art, not unlike the concertos of Vivaldi or the nocturnes of Chopin. It’s modern art, a product of the age of industry; music for the ages. This will be listened to for hundreds of years to come. Not by the masses, but it won’t be forgotten.

[@nicolabarone9706]

TRACK LIST : 1. YOU'RE A SWEET LITTLE HEARTACHE 2. THANKS FOR EV'RYTHING 3. DAY AFTER DAY 4. SAY IT WITH A KISS 5. THEY SAY 6. SUPPER TIME 7. BILL 8. I WANT MY SHARE OF LOVE 9. IT'S ALL YOURS 10. THIS IS IT 11. ANY OLD TIME 12. I'M IN LOVE WITH THE HONOURABLE MR. SO AND SO 13. YOU GROW SWEETER AS THE YEARS GO BY 14. IF YOU EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND 15. I POURED MY HEART INTO A SONG 16. ALL I REMEMBER IS YOU 17. A MAN AND HIS DREAM 18. EASY TO SAY 19. I'LL REMEMBER 20. THE LAST TWO WEEKS IN JULY 21. MANY DREAMS AGO 22. LOVE IS HERE 23. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS 24. DO I LOVE YOU?

[@horatiodreamt]

Thanks for the vid. Great music, great band, great singer.

[@theresadimaggio7241]

I love this

[@thecardinalcritique]

A wonderful selection! I could listen to this every night, her voice is so absolutely lovely.

[@heliobarceloscosta247]

Ok

[@SheridanJazz]

The only one i really missed was "Deep In A Dream", but a wonderful selection nonetheless.

[@petertaylor3600]

In her day they had band singers who actually could sing. The pathetic attempts now can't even hold a candle. These girls were actually trained and had talent. And so did Artie Shaw, by the way.

[@SheridanJazz]

@@petertaylor3600 Agreed. Today's talent, if you want to call it that, are all shouting rock 'n' roll wannabes. None can't approach the subtlety of the Helen Wards, Jo Staffords, Helen Forrests, etc. They were artists and so were the leaders and sidemen they worked with night after night. It's a damned shame that standards have dropped the way they have.

[@imperiallebaron2391]

I can't believe the music I've found on KZbin. I've heard of Artie Shaw from my parents who grew up during that era. They were both born in 1929. I love the big bands. I heard a small clip of You're a sweet little headache in the movie The Rocketeer. > love the song. I'm going to see if this album is available on cd on Amazon.

[@juanmanuelparadacontreras9565]

Simplemente geniales todas estas melodías en evocar una era de gran glamour y distinción plenas.

[@drewsagar2634]

All great songs from the all time greatest . Thanks for upload Mr. Ma

[@gerdamaria3333]

The best. Musical upbeat & psychological uplift ! Imagine nights out - listening and dancing to this sort of Big Band Live Music ! A completely different mind set / spirit in terms of music, fun, culture, humour, etiquette, romance etc. I keep asking myself why we so willingly gave that all up ? And keep getting only one answer: We must be insane ...

[@paynectygardener2033]

Helen Forrest is one of a few ladies I will always dream of dancing with in atmosphere of big band sounds....

[@johnnygersie7568]

Helen Forrest's voice is very nice and lovely!!!

[@ArtigasMillan]

Gracias Kevin por compartir esta maravilla!😃👍

[@issurchaim]

Any Old Time and They Say , are my faves.

[@orlandocastro1243]

Qué hermosa voz. hacen juego con los instrumentos En cuánto la letra mis respetos lastima que seamos pocos los que la aparecíamos....... Cómo me gustaría que estuviera viva Helen.

[@pattygonzales9605]

I love to listen to Helen. This is a new album for me. Gonna have to learn the words cuz I love to sing along with her. My ringtone is Sing Sing Sing (Benny Goodman).

[@zofiazdanowska3507]

Cudowne lata Ameryki. Dla Polaków niedoścignione w tym czasie .Żal i tęsknota za czymś odległym.Dzięki.😮

[@evantvede6452]

I love the music from the days long gone.

[@JabezGill]

I wish this collection was on iTunes!

[@michaeloleary1867]

Love it!

[@estebantorresaraujo2530]

Gracias por compartir esta joya ! Saludos !

[@ChrisGroggyCreaser]

*Magic!!... :)

[@humbertobautista4270]

Metales vivientes y vos hermosa un deleite auditivo

[@user-hc4ht9ol2t]

Это какое-то невероятное чудо!!! Спасибо!

[@brucer2152]

the horns are what really do it for me. Sooooo good.

[@ArchiveMan78]

Love It! 💙

[@joewhittaker3043]

Just WOW

[@julioverrie4127]

I love her for ever and your swet voice.😍

[@jefffriedberg]

This is GREAT!!!!

[@billdyke9745]

Enchanting. 👍

[@romildocontini2043]

mi piace moltissimo HELEN FORREST

[@thomasguthrie5938]

Helen Forrest was the best female vocalist of the big band sing era.

[@dragovanukic4716]

Sjajno!!!

[@tinamariedunn8278]

Yes My Love 💕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I Do Love You Forever and Always Loved truly seriously and Sincerely I Do💯🤗🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🎶🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🥰🥰😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤩💖🤩🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@martiamatvila5348]

ANNA MARTÍ🐾🐾. PRESÍOSA .. BELLÍSIMA Í ALEGRA 🎶 🎵 MÚSICA DEL AÑS ( 50_ 60 ) CUÁN LA SENS ET VENAN UNAS GANAS DE BALLÁ QUÉ LAS CAMAS MARCHAN SOLAS🐾🐾🌲🌲🌲❤❤❤🎼💖🎊🦋🦚🌹🌺

[@HankPhillips6565]

I can dig it

[@freddyarellano3907]

Graciassdd

[@epyprozmicepyprozmic2689]

13:02 They Say

[@egmont3027]

Does the melody in this song remind anyone else of the one in So Rare?

[@epyprozmicepyprozmic2689]

​@@egmont3027 I thought you meant that there is such a movie, and started looking for it on the Internet, but it turned out that this is such a kind of blockchain game tote ))) As you can see, I am a person from the past ...😁

[@egmont3027]

@@epyprozmicepyprozmic2689 sorry! I meant to say Carl Ravazza's So Rare

[@epyprozmicepyprozmic2689]

@@egmont3027 To my shame, I must confess that I knew nothing about Carl Ravazza. And so I am pleased to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to get to know him. As for the melodic similarity, I would agree with you that here it is to a certain extent. Precisely to the extent that songwriters and arrangers go to meet the broadest audience, trying to grasp that common in her soul, which this multi-million soul would like to hear as "its own." In particular, this is especially expressed in the format of compositions: an instrumental verse, followed by a vocal verse, then an instrumental verse with variations and ... usually this is the end. Obviously, this is the structure that is optimal for the perception of a person who is on vacation, or who wants to relieve psychological stress? I'm sure you will agree with me if I say that the opposite is also true: the masses of listeners, like buyers in a hypermarket, willingly or unwittingly subordinate their tastes to the assortment of food offered on the shelves - often without thinking about whether they need this, but is it qualitative, and not harmful, etc. But be that as it may, I find it very revealing the fact that the creations of mass culture can not leave the audience indifferent even decades later. And even listeners on different continents. Thanks again for mentioning Carl Ravazza and my best wishes from the Russian Federation.

[@RayRamos-gb9yb]

Big band for forever

[@lunita-vu3db]

❤

[@legendvito5702]

🖐🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🖐🏼🤝🤝🤝

[@michellecourts2237]

I may have seen her ounce at a hotel in L.A?. But it gets confusing at 90!

[@ericmason8688]

This is how God intended us to woo each other w music.

[@brucer9572]

I get my Helens mixed up. Is it Helen Morgan, or Helen O'Connell, or Helen Forrest?

[@tinamariedunn8278]

❤My True Love Destiny and My future together finally ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤❤❤Mr. Wonderful and Awesome Future Husband 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰r..Josh

[@davidhess6593]

Artie and Helen were a great match in every way, but for too short a time, as if were only the Last Two Weeks In July.

[@davidwise9487]

I meant was Helen Forrest secretly in love with Artie Shaw?!

[@massimookissed1023]

You see thoe 3 vertical dots beside your comment ?

[@mtnwriter4011]

They always say it's going back to the past. I disagree. It's fixing and improving the present.

[@davidwise9487]

Was Helen Forrest inLive with Artie Shaw or just singing what every woman secretly wants?!

[@blueskymut]

When men were men, women were women and the chrome was thick🇺🇸

[@andrewmacgregor9252]

Comments here are nearly as good as the musc.

[@vHumboldt77]

"Any Old Time" by Forrest stands no chances vs. Billie Holliday's. Holliday gives the tune a swing that Forrest doesn't ever dream of doing (for one, just compare how Holliday attacks the first words of the song...). Even Shaw seems more inspired by Billie singing along. In other words: Forrest follows the tune, while Holliday leads it.

[@waldolydecker8118]

very true. I believe the tune was given to Forrest to re-recorded after Holiday was hired to sing with Shaw in 1938, but encountered a series of racial incidents and restrictions at every gig the band played to the point that her contract with the band had to be dissolved and replaced with Forrest. Holiday discussed in her AutoBio.

[@rdondiego123]

Listen again--this time more critically!

[@vHumboldt77]

@@rdondiego123 oh yes, I can listen to it 1,000 times and still believe that Hollyday's is way better.

[@rdondiego123]

Then we shall agree to disagree. I love anything Billie did...but she was strictly a Jazz singer (perhaps THE greatest)...not a Band Singer...whereas Helen was the prototype. And to my ears Billie sounds uncomfortable and constrained by the 4/4 rhythm required by typical swing band arrangements like this one...which did not suit her style. She admitted this herself to both Helen and Artie before she left to go out on her own. Furthermore, even Artie preferred Helen's interpretation over Billie's--which is why he re-recorded it accordingly.

[@waldolydecker8118]

@@rdondiego123 - Site the reference where we can either hear (audio/video) or read Holiday saying to Helen and Artie before she went out on her own that she felt uncomfortable and constrained by the 4/4 rhythm required by typical swing band arrangements. Also, provide the same type audio/video/written reference of Artie Shaw claiming he preferred Helen's interpretation over Billie's, which is why he re-recorded it. These two claims by you are unsupported by 40 years of research and study of Big Band jazz and swing and sound like pure opinion of yourself or other writers. Will stand by to receive your source for these quotes attributed directly from the mouths of Holiday and Shaw. If no verifiable source is provided, will conclude your claim is merely opinion.

[@dw999]

One very disturbing note: "Suppertime," which is presented as a breezy song (maybe about a man who has run off) was written, for a 1933 show, as a woman's reaction to the news *that her husband has been lynched* . It is deeply disturbing that, only a few years after it was written, Shaw thought it was perfectly OK to give it an upbeat arrangement -- shows zero respect for the horrors that black Americans were still experiencing.

[@scotnick59]

I have often thought that same thing = it is sung and presented in an almost flippant manner

[@daveday5507]

Funny, I always regarded it as a note of respect for Lady, for whom the arrangement was written.

[@vancouverman4313]

It's a 1940's pop song, it doesn't mean anything. I'm sure Arte Shaw didn't mean any offence to any Lynchees.

[@daveday5507]

@@vancouverman4313 Saw, after his trials with Lady, was as aware as anyone just what the inferences were.

[@pathetictroll7557]

Yes, you are correct. When I hear that recording "Suppertime" I totally cringe!

[@ericmason8688]

Funny........this does not sound like Adel.......?