Helen Ward (jazz singer)
Encyclopedia
Helen Ward was an American singer. Her father had taught her piano, and she appeared on radio broadcasts with WOR
and WNYC
. She also worked as a staff musician at WNYC.
Starting in 1934, she sang in Benny Goodman
's first band, and became one of the first popular swing "girl singers", as they were then called, and among Goodman's most popular. She and Benny had a brief romance and he came very close to proposing marriage to her in either 1935 or 1936. However, according to Ward in the documentary, Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing, he called it off at the last minute, citing his career. She married financier Albert Marx the following year and left the band.
In 1938, Marx arranged for Goodman's Carnegie Hall
concert to be recorded for her as an anniversary present. That recording was later released as a dual LP set by Columbia Records in 1950.
During the 1940s, Ward worked with the bands of Hal McIntyre and Harry James
. She became a radio show producer for WMGM in 1946-1947.
. Savory was part of the team that invented the 33⅓ rpm long-playing record. Ward continued to do sporadic studio work and also worked briefly with Peanuts Hucko
. Ward did occasional tours with Goodman in the 1950s, but effectively retired by 1960. She made a brief return in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She returned to singing at New York City
clubs in 1979. In 1981, she released her final album, The Helen Ward Song Book Vol. I.
WOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
and WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
. She also worked as a staff musician at WNYC.
Starting in 1934, she sang in Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
's first band, and became one of the first popular swing "girl singers", as they were then called, and among Goodman's most popular. She and Benny had a brief romance and he came very close to proposing marriage to her in either 1935 or 1936. However, according to Ward in the documentary, Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing, he called it off at the last minute, citing his career. She married financier Albert Marx the following year and left the band.
In 1938, Marx arranged for Goodman's Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
concert to be recorded for her as an anniversary present. That recording was later released as a dual LP set by Columbia Records in 1950.
During the 1940s, Ward worked with the bands of Hal McIntyre and Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
. She became a radio show producer for WMGM in 1946-1947.
Later years
After her marriage to Marx ended, Ward later married the audio engineer William SavoryWilliam Savory
William Savory , , was an audio engineer known for his extensive private recordings of important jazz musicians in the 1930s, and for his contributions to recording technology. A musician who developed an interest in sound engineering, Savory began building his own recording devices in the...
. Savory was part of the team that invented the 33⅓ rpm long-playing record. Ward continued to do sporadic studio work and also worked briefly with Peanuts Hucko
Peanuts Hucko
Michael Andrew "Peanuts" Hucko was an American big band musician. His primary instrument was the clarinet.-Early life and education:...
. Ward did occasional tours with Goodman in the 1950s, but effectively retired by 1960. She made a brief return in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She returned to singing at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
clubs in 1979. In 1981, she released her final album, The Helen Ward Song Book Vol. I.