Who is your favorite "forgotten singer"?

[Warbaby]

Bert Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qMTZW9QOE

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Teddy Grace. 1905 - 1992

She became a professional singer in 1931; sang on the radio in the South; worked for Al Katz (1933), Tommy Christian (1934), and Mal Hallett (on and off during 1934-1937); and recorded for Decca during 1937-1940, using such sidemen as Bobby Hackett, Jack Teagarden, Charlie Shavers, Buster Bailey, Pee Wee Russell, and Bud Freeman. Grace became disenchanted with the music business and quit in 1940. She joined the WACs during World War II and after straining herself singing during a busy schedule of bond rallies and shows, she lost her voice. Although Teddy Grace's speaking voice eventually came back in a weakened form, she was unable to sing again and spent the rest of her life outside of music. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

 

[George Wagner]

My all-time favorite singer, forgotten or otherwise, is Marion Harris. (And NOBODY'S been as unfairly forgotten as Marion.)

But let me also mention Cincinnati's own Ruby Wright, the wife of bandleader Barney Rapp, the leader who gave a very young Doris Kappelhoff (Doris Day) her start.

 

[KY Gentleman]

Anyone else miss Hoyt Axton? I always enjoyed his songs and humor.

 

[Blackjack]

Helen Forrest...that gal could really sing a tune

 

[SweetieStarr]

Although probably not forgotten on the FL, but largely forgotten in modern society - my fave "forgotten" singer is Al Jolson.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mr. Banjo Eyes, the multi-talented Eddie Cantor.

 

[chucklehead]

betty hutton and florence foster jenkins lol

 

[ImmortalChaos]

Virginia O'Brien,then Ella Mae Morse, but I refuse to accept them as forgotten. I prefer to think they have a cult following. Virginia O'Brien, was such a flawless beauty and talent.

 

[LuketheLurker]

I will say Sally Foster of WLS National Barn Dance fame . I have only heard her sing two songs in my life time on 78‘s that I have, Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You) [Decca -18738A], and There's A Tear In My Beer Tonight [Decca -18745B], both recorded with The Hoosier Hot Shots in 1945. I love her voice it is so sultry and Oh! My, I can’t describe how it makes me feel, it is so beautiful. She hits notes that make me shiver , as well as Ken Trietsch of the Hot Shots (some of his best vocal recordings in my opinion). Dose any one know more about her career? I would love to hear more about her. Also are their Hoosier Hot shot fans out there?

 

[Brinybay]

When grooving to those good old tunes , you occasionally stumble upon remarkable singer you *never* have heard of before. You either itch to find out more about them or recomend them to others.

I would like to dedicate this thread to those wonderfull canaries and meowing cats.

That would be Tony Martin. I stumbled across him while watching a Marx Bros. movie, The Big Store.

 

[DerMann]

Tough choice.

Either Harry Champion:

Mark Sheridan:

or Charles Coborn:

 

[deadpandiva]

Virginia O'Brien,then Ella Mae Morse, but I refuse to accept them as forgotten. I prefer to think they have a cult following. Virginia O'Brien, was such a flawless beauty and talent.

I am definatley a huge Virgina fan. I had a 16 inch armed forces radio record that was Virginia O'Brien on one side and Martha Mears on the other. I could never find anyone to transfer it for me and I never found a record player to play it on. Sadly I know longer have it.

I als just discovered a singer named Lee Morse. I'd never heard of her before but will definatly be getting some of her music on CD. Anyone who hasn't heard of her should check out her version of Moanin Low on Youtube. She had a very unique delivery.

 

[Jerekson]

betty hutton and florence foster jenkins lol

What is the deal with your signature?

 

[Craig Robertson]

Cliff Edwards

Oh, indeed, indeed. Great choice, Nick. But my choice would be, from the same era, the incomparable Ruth Etting. When Ruth sang "Mean To Me" the entire world stopped for a moment.

 

[BORNTOOLATE]

Chris Conner- what a sexy, smokey voice. I had never even heard of her until she was listed on a Johnny Mathis box set. He said she was an influence on his style as he saw her perform night clubs in San Francisco early on.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Leah Ray -- vocalist with Phil Harris's orchestra in the early thirties. She was *very* young at the time, only sixteen or so when she started, but she had a very mature voice and was especially good in comic/romantic duets with Harris. (In their recording of "How's About It," Harris reacts with mock astonishment when she confesses she's only seventeen -- "Uhhh -- let's forget about it, dear!")

And speaking of mature voices, listen to the recordings made by Baby Rose Marie c. 1931-32, and you'll have a hard time believing she's only nine years old, especially when she goes into the bluesy Libby Holman growly-voice stuff.

 

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Enjoying a bit of renewed interest over here in the UK at the moment, Al Bowlly.
Killed in a raid on London, he's famous for 'Goodnight sweetheart' but songs like 'Who am I?' and 'Close your eyes'
*shiver*

But this one....
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_tBsETTOhLw&feature=related

Makes me drift off somewhere else every time....

What a voice.

 

[The Lonely Navigator]

My favorite singer - thus far, is Josephine Baker. I have a CD of her French songs and just love them. As far as musicians are concerned - Django Reinhardt and Paul Whiteman.

Prien

 

[flat-top]

Then title of this thread always makes me think of the forgotten (and fictional) Johnny Favorite: