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Helen Humes (June 23, 1913 – September 9, 1981) was an American singer. Humes was a teenage blues singer, a vocalist with Count Basie's band, a saucy R&B diva, and a mature interpreter of the classic popular song.
In 1945, she recorded her biggest commercial hit, “Be-Baba-Leba.” When she’d saved enough money, she bought her parents a building for them to work out of. According to many critics, Humes’s voice was versatile, covering jazz classics and ballads as well as the blues.
On June 23, 1909, in Louisville, Kentucky, a rising star was born: the mysterious, elegant, and multi-talented Helen Humes. Humes was raised loving music, and starting at age 17, she began a wildly successful career singing jazz and blues.
US jazz and blues singer. First recordings 1927. Replaced Billie Holiday as lead vocalist w. Count Basie's Orchestra in 1938. Solo artist 1940's to 1960's before withdrawing from music for several years. Comeback in 1973 at the Newport Jazz Festival and remained musically active until her death.
Jan 26, 2023 · Equally at home with ballads, to which she brought faultless jazz phrasing, blues shouting and R&B rockers, Humes was one of the outstanding singers of her day. Her light, clear voice retained a youthful sound into her 60s, and her late-period recordings were among the best she ever made.
Sep 14, 1981 · Helen Humes, whose high-pitched, sweet-toned voice was heard with Count Basie's orchestra for four years and who subsequently had a long career as a singer of both ballads and blues, died of...
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Helen Humes was a fantastic Blues singer who made some very early recordings as a solo artist, became famous as the voice of the Count Basie Orchestra, toured Europe with the American Blues Festivals and made a formidable comeback after a ten year retirement.
