Helen O'Connell was an American singer, actress, and hostess, described as "the quintessential big band singer of the 1940s".
15 Facts About Helen O'Connell
2.
Helen O'Connell launched her career as a big-band singer with Larry Funk and his Band of a Thousand Melodies.
3.
Helen O'Connell was singing with Funk's band in Greenwich Village when Jimmy Dorsey's manager discovered her.
4.
In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen O'Connell then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement.
5.
Helen O'Connell was selected by DownBeat readers as best female singer in 1940 and 1941 and won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist.
6.
Helen O'Connell retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943.
7.
In March 1955 Helen O'Connell visited Australia as a support act on the landmark tour headlined by singer Johnnie Ray, which set a new box office record for Australia that stood until the 1964 visit by The Beatles.
8.
Helen O'Connell was the featured singer on The Russ Morgan Show on CBS TV in 1956.
9.
In 1957, she had her own 15-minute program, The Helen O'Connell Show, twice a week on NBC.
10.
Helen O'Connell co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1976 for her coverage of the Miss Universe pageant.
11.
Helen O'Connell sang duets with Bing Crosby, Johnny Mercer, and Dean Martin.
12.
Helen O'Connell sang the National Anthem for Super Bowl XV in 1981.
13.
Helen O'Connell's 1942 recording of "Brazil" with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra was a 2009 addition to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
14.
In 1992, Helen O'Connell was featured along with The Andrews Sisters and Kay Starr in the KCET special Those Fabulous 40s.
15.
Helen O'Connell's funeral was held at St Paul's Catholic Church in Westwood, California, where she was a member.