Helen Morgan

Helen Morgan

Helen Morgan (née Riggins; August 2, 1900 – October 9, 1941) was an American singer and actress who worked in films and on the stage. A quintessential torch singer, she made a big splash in the Chicago club scene in the 1920s. She starred as Julie LaVerne in the original Broadway production of Hammerstein and Kern's musical Show Boat in 1927, as well as in the 1932 Broadway revival of the musical, and appeared in two film adaptations, a part-talkie made in 1929 (prologue only) and a full-sound version made in 1936, becoming firmly associated with the role. She suffered from bouts of alcoholism, and despite her notable success in the title role of another Hammerstein and Kern's Broadway musical, Sweet Adeline (1929), her stage career was relatively short. Helen Morgan died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 41. She was portrayed by Polly Bergen in the Playhouse 90 drama The Helen Morgan Story and by Ann Blyth in the 1957 biopic based on the television drama.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 2, 1900 (Danville), Died October 8, 1941 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1963

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-42442	10-in.	2/14/1928	Can't help lovin' dat man	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-42443	10-in.	2/14/1928	Bill	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-50917	10-in.	3/6/1929	Who cares what you have been?	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-50918	10-in.	3/6/1929	Mean to me	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-56191	10-in.	10/16/1929	Why was I born?	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-56711	10-in.	9/24/1929	What wouldn't I do for that man!	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-56712	10-in.	9/24/1929	More than you know	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-57142	10-in.	11/12/1929	Don't ever leave me!	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-63625	10-in.	9/5/1930	Body and soul	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BVE-63626	10-in.	9/5/1930	Something to remember you by	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-81880	10-in.	3/12/1934	A fool there was	George Hall ; Hotel Taft Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-81968	10-in.	3/21/1934	Give me a heart to sing to	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-81969	10-in.	3/21/1934	Frankie and Johnny	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 111-a]	10-in.	July 1927	A tree in the park	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 111-b]	10-in.	July 1927	Where’s that rainbow?	Leslie Hutchinson ; Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 122-a]	10-in.	approximately July 1927	Nothing but	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 122-b]	10-in.	approximately July 1927	Wanting you	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 129-a]	10-in.	approximately July 1927	Do-do-do	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 129-b]	10-in.	approximately Sept. 1927	Maybe	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with male vocal duet and piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	R-166	10-in.	July 1927	Possibly	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	R181	10-in.	approximately July 1927	Lazy weather	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) July 1927]	10-in.	July 1927	[Unknown title(s)]	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) Sept. 1927]	10-in.	approximately Sept. 1927	[Unknown title(s)]	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with male vocal duet and piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 110-a]	10-in.	approximately June 1927	Just like a butterfly (That's caught in the rain)	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 110-b]	10-in.	approximately June 1927	You remind me of a naughty springtime cuckoo	Helen Morgan	Female vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal

(Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morgan, Helen," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108933.

Morgan, Helen. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108933.

"Morgan, Helen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.