Name some 40s and 50s female singers that are lesser known

...but are just as amazing and created must have albums that many may not be aware of.

Digging into the Judy Garland (I think most see her more as a film star- at least I did) thread I realized that I did not know just how good this woman was as a singer and interpreter of song. A treasure to be explored for certain.

Got me to wondering who else I might be missing that arent some of the biggies ( Ella, Billie..etc)

So this thread is for naming female vocalists/albums/songs from the 40s and 50s that are much more prolific and wonderful singers than some aware and you feel should be explored.

Think: June Christy, Anita O Day..that type of singer also.

Can some of you experts help stretch out my knowledge of female vocalists from these time periods other than the usual suspects?

Tell us whats in your collections please! Feel free to name must have albums.

Thanks,

 

Nellie Lutcher. Just the best.

 

Cool, cool. Never heard of her. Any album suggestions? Songs?

lol haha, and that avatar is a mess, love it

Edit:

Not sure if this is prime Nellie Lutcher but I sure like it!

 

Ruth Olay

 

Frances Wayne

 

Helen Merrill

 

Wow, she certainly had dramatic flair. Very nice! Thank you!

So many different styles of singing by the ladies mentioned. Ruth Olay had a magnificant vibrato and Im not one to like a lot of vibrato in vocals. Frances Wayne very much smooth. Hear some Ella in here voice. Nice!

Never heard of either of these artists. So neat stuff.

Can you tell me what albums/comps you might suggest as their best?

Also, any personal story as to how you discovered these ladies? Feel free to share what you know about their history if you like.

 

Yes. I have a compilation of her best. Great choice!

 

I would be remiss were I not to share this......

 

An excellent compilation LP on UK Stateside label titled Nelli Lutcher - Real Gone Gal.
Released in middle 80's.

 

She was successful in the day, but I don't know how well she's remembered today: Kay Starr



The harmonies on the "..spinning, spinning, spinning..." chorus just slay me.

 

A few others I could think of . . .
- Evelyn Knight (famous for "A Little Bird Told Me" from 1949)
- Marjorie Hughes
- The Dinning Sisters
- Eileen Rodgers
- Lisa Kirk
- Mindy Carson
- Lu Ann Simms
- Jeri Southern
- Fran Allison (yes, the "Fran" of Kukla, Fran & Ollie)
- Jill Corey
- Fran Warren
- Karen Chandler (known in late 1940's as Eve Young)
- Ginny Simms
- Helen O'Connell
- Martha Stewart (no, not that Martha Stewart)
- The DeJohn Sisters (only one big hit, "No More")
- Jane Turzy
- Sunny Gale
- Helen Forrest
- Janette Davis

 

W

Only one album, but a great one, if you can find it.

 

Here's where I would have posted a little picture of Pier Angeli.

 

How? The only non-tape technology I can think of that would allow this level of sync is multiple optical film sound-tracks.

 

I had no idea a wire recorder could be hi-fidelity!

 

I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned one of my favorite singers from the 50's and 60's: Dakota Staton. Her interpretation of Misty is superb.