Helen O'Connell
|
|
Helen O'Connell (May 23, 1920 – September 9, 1993) was a singer, actress, and dancer. Helen was born in Lima, Ohio.
Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola" and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "Today Show" girls. At one point Helen even had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters, and eight grandchildren. When the marriage failed she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen was married a total of four times. In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she passed away in San Diego, California from a battle with cancer.