Helen Humes

Helen Humes

Source: Data B

Born on 23 June 1913 in Louisville, Kentucky, Helen Humes was yet a student, age thirteen, when she sang at an amateur talent contest in 1926, there noticed by blues guitarist, Sylvester Weaver, who helped set her up with her first recording session on 30 April 1927. Those were her own compositions, 'Black Cat Blues' and 'A Worried Woman's Blues', issued on Okeh 8467. DAHR has her backed by Weaver on those but other sources team her with Lonnie Johnson, and possibly with pianist, DeLoise Searcy or J.C. Johnson [45 Worlds / All Music / Discogs / Pravits]. Two other tracks went unreleased: 'Jam Up Too Tight' and 'Stomping Weaver's Blues'. Sources agree on Humes' next session on 26 November of 1927 also in St. Louis, placing her with J.C. Johnson on 'If Papa Has Outside Lovin' (OKeh 8545), 'Do What You Did Last Night' (OKeh 8545) and 'Everybody Does It Now' (OKeh 8529). 'Cross Eyed Blues' (OKeh 8825) and 'Garlic Blues' (OKeh 8825) went down with Weaver and guitarist, Walter Beasley. They also backed her on guitar the next day for 'Alligator Blues' (OKeh 8529), 'Nappy Headed Blues' (OKeh 8674) and 'Race Horse Blues' (OKeh 8825).

'Black Cat Blues'   Helen Humes   First recording

30 April 1927 in St. Louis   Matrix 80803-B   Okeh 8467

Piano: DeLoise Searcy if not J.C. Johnson

Guitar: Sylvester Weaver if not Lonnie Johnson

Composition: Humes

'A Worried Woman's Blues'   Helen Humes   Third recording

30 April 1927 in St. Louis   Matrix 80805-A   Okeh 8467

Piano: DeLoise Searcy if not J.C. Johnson

Guitar: Sylvester Weaver if not Lonnie Johnson

Composition: Humes

The busyness above was the last that Humes saw of the music industry for several years as she continued with a normal life of attending school, graduating and working at odd jobs such as waitressing. Browse Biography has her taking a trip for leisure with friends to Buffalo, New York, in 1935 that became an invitation to work with Al Sears upon singing a few songs at the Spider Web cabaret. Come 1936 they were playing the Cotton Club in Cincinnati where Humes' big break with a major name arrived in 1937, acquiring backing by Harry James' big band on recordings that year. 'Jubilee' / 'I Can Dream, Can't I?' (Brunswick 8038) went down on 1 December [Lord]. Come 'Song of the Wanderer' (Brunswick 8067) and 'It's the Dreamer in Me' (Brunswick 8055) on 5 January of 1938.

'I Can Dream, Can't I'   Harry James Orchestra backing Helen Humes

1 Dec 1937 in NYC   Matrix B22085-1   Brunswick 8038 / Vocalion S155 (Europe)

Trumpet: Harry James (arrangement) / Buck Clayton

Trombone: Eddie Durham

Alto sax: Earl Warren / Jack Washington (baritone)   Tenor sax: Herschel Evans

Piano: Jess Stacy   Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Music: Sammy Fain   Lyrics: Irving Kahal

'Song of the Wanderer'   Harry James Orchestra backing Helen Humes

5 Jan 1938 in NYC   Matrix B22250-1   Brunswick 8067 / Vocalion S146 (Europe)

Trumpet: Harry James (arrangement) / Buck Clayton

Trombone: Eddie Durham

Alto sax: Earl Warren / Jack Washington (baritone)   Tenor sax: Herschel Evans

Piano: Jess Stacy   Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Neil Moret (Charles Daniels)

Humes joined the Count Basie Orchestra in March for the next four years. Her male counterpart while with Basie would be Jimmy Rushing. Lord has Humes backing Basie on unidentified titles on 29 May 1938 per a remote broadcast by radio WNEW at the Carnival of Swing Festival on Randall's Island in New York City. Those transcriptions saw later inclusion on Savory NJMH 0113 and Mosaic MD6 266. Lord has Humes on vocals with Basie on 3 June 1938 in NYC to spread along 'Blues with Helen' and 'Song of the Wanderer' neither issued until years later on Nostalgia 7639 (a Lester Young compilation) and assorted Vanguard compilations. Come a long string of radio engagements to 16 November of 1938 when Basie supported Humes on 'Dark Rapture' (Decca 2212).

'Dark Rapture'   Count Basie Orchestra backing Helen Humes

16 Nov 1938 in NYC   Matrix 64746-A   Decca 2212

Trumpet: Ed Lewis / Buck Clayton / Harry Edison

Trombone: Benny Morton / Dicky Wells / Dan Minor

Alto sax: Earl Warren / Jack Washington (baritone)

Tenor sax: Lester Young (clarinet) / Herschel Evans

Guitar: Freddie Green   Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Edgar Sampson / Benny Goodman / Manny Kurtz

'Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea'   Count Basie Orchestra backing Helen Humes

7 Nov 1939 in Los Angeles   1 of 5 takes unidentified

Takes 1-3 & 5 issued later on Mosaic CD   Take 4 issued on Columbia 35357

Trumpet: Buck Clayton / Shad Collins / Harry Edison / Ed Lewis

Trombone: Benny Morton / Dicky Wells / Dan Minor

Alto sax: Earl Warren / Jack Washington (baritone)

Tenor sax: Lester Young / Buddy Tate

Guitar: Freddie Green   Piano: Count Basie

Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones   Arrangement: Andy Gibson

Composition: Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler

'Stardust'   Helen Humes

1941 in NYC   From the album 'Midnight at Minton's'   Onyx ORI 208 (US)   1973

Trumpet: Joe Guy   Tenor sax: Don Byas   Piano: Thelonious Monk

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish

Leaving Basie's hard-driving band in 1942, Humes worked nightclubs in NYC until moving to Los Angeles in 1944 where she began recording soundtracks and appearing in films. In 1945 she released her highly popular composition 'Be-Baba-Leba' (Philo 106). Another of her best-selling titles was 'Million Dollar Secret' in 1950 on Modern 779.

'Unlucky Woman'   Pete Brown & His Band backing Helen Humes

9 Feb 1942 in NYC   Matrix 70300-A   Decca 8613

Trumpet: Dizzy Gillespie   Clarinet: Jimmy Hamilton

Alto sax: Pete Brown   Piano: Sammy Price

Bass: Charlie Drayton   Drums: Ray Nathan

Composition: Leonard Feather

'Be-Baba-Leba'   Bill Doggett Octet backing Helen Humes

June 1945 in Los Angeles   Matrix A2126   Philo 106 / Aladdin 106

Trumpet: Ross Butler   Alto sax: John Brown

Tenor sax: Wild Bill Moore   Baritone sax: Ernest Thompson

Piano: Bill Doggett   Guitar: Elmer Warner

Bass: Alfred Moore   Drums: Chiz Harris

Composition: Helen Humes

'Jet Propelled Papa'   Buck Clayton Orchestra backing Helen Humes

C August 1947   Same session as 'They Raided the Joint' below

1 of 2 takes issued on either Mercury 8047 or later on Verve CD

Trumpet: Buck Clayton   Trombone: George Matthews   Tenor sax: John Hardee

Piano: Ram Ramirez   Guitar: Mundell Lowe

Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Helen Humes / Joe Williams

'They Raided the Joint'   Buck Clayton Orchestra backing Helen Humes

C August 1947   Same session as 'Jet Propelled Papa' above

1 of 2 takes issued on either Mercury 8056 or later on Verve CD

Trumpet: Buck Clayton   Trombone: George Matthews   Tenor sax: John Hardee

Piano: Ram Ramirez   Guitar: Mundell Lowe

Bass: Walter Page   Drums: Papa Jo Jones

Composition: Roy Eldridge / Hot Lips Page

'Million Dollar Secret'   Roy Milton Band backing Helen Humes

August 1950 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles   Matrix MM1413   Modern 20-779

Trumpet: Charles Gillum   Alto sax: Jackie Kelso   Tenor sax: Jimmy Jackson

Piano: Camille Howard   Guitar: poss Johnny Rogers

Bass: Lawrence Kato or Dallas Bartley   Drums: Roy Milton

Composition: Helen Humes

In 1956 Humes toured Australia with Red Norvo, returning there in 1962 and 1964. She appeared at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1959, the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1960 and 1962, and toured Europe with the initial American Folk Blues Festival in 1962.

'Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do'   Helen Humes

27 Jan 1959 in Los Angeles

From the album 'Helen Humes' on Continental M 3571 / S 7571

Trumpet: Benny Carter   Trombone: Frank Rosolino   Tenor sax: Teddy Edwards

Piano: Andre Previn

Bass: Leroy Vinnegar   Drums: Mel Lewis or Shelly Manne

Composition: Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins   1922

'If I Could Be With You'   Helen Humes

8 Sep 1960 in Los Angeles

From the album 'Songs I Like To Sing' on Continental M 3582

Tenor sax: Ben Webster   Piano: Andre Previn   Guitar: Barney Kessel

Bass: Leroy Vinnegar   Drums: Shelly Manne   Arrangement: Marty Paich

Composition: Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson

'When Day Is Done'   Helen Humes

From the album 'Swingin' with Humes' recorded 27-29 July 1961 in Los Angeles

Continental M 3598

Trumpet: Joe Gordon   Tenor sax: Teddy Edwards  Piano: Wynton Kelly

Guitar: Al Viola   Bass: Leroy Vinnegar   Drums: Frank Butler

Composition: Buddy G. De Sylva / Robert Katscher

'The Blues Ain't Nothin' But a Woman'   Helen Humes   Video

American Folk and Blues Festival of 1962

Piano: Memphis Slim   Harmonica: Sonny Terry

Electric guitar: T-Bone Walker   Acoustic guitar: Brownie McGhee

Bass: Willy Dixon   Drums: Jump Jackson

Composition: J. Mao Williams

In 1967 Humes retired, taking a job in a factory that manufactured ammunition. In 1973 she was encouraged to appear at the Newport Jazz Festival again, which by hook and crook landed her in Europe to perform and record in France before appearing at The Cookery in NYC from 1974 to 1977. The latter seventies saw Humes recording in France before the album, 'Helen Humes and the Muse All Stars', went down in New York City in October of 1979. Come 'The New Years Eve' recorded live in December at The Cookery though not issued until 1991. The album, 'Helen', followed in June of 1980 in NYC (Muse MR5233).

'Deed I Do' / 'Don't Worry 'Bout Me'   Helen Humes   Television

1977   Prob the 'Over Easy' television show w Hugh Downs

'Deed I Do' music by Fred Rose w lyrics by Walter Hirsch   1926

'Don't Worry 'Bout Me' music by Rube Bloom w lyrics by Ted Koehler   1938

'Loud Talkin' Woman'   Helen Humes

8 Oct 1979 in NYC

From the album 'Helen Humes and the Muse All Stars' on Muse M R5217

Tenor Sax: Arnett Cobb / Buddy Tate   Alto sax: Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

Piano: Gerry Wiggins   Bass: Lisle Atkinson   Drums: Ronnie Cole

Composition: Helen Humes

Tom Lord traces Humes to as late as September 1980 on tour to Japan toward the albums, 'Aurex Jazz Festival '80 - Live Special' (Eastworld EWJ-80253) and 'Aurex Jazz Festival '80 - Gentlemen of Swing' (Eastworld EWJ-80188). She there performed with Teddy Wilson, Milt Hinton and Shelly Manne. Humes died of cancer on 9 September 1981 in Santa Monica, California ['New York Times' / 'Sarasota Herald-Tribune']. Another of her important musical associations had been Norman Granz, she featuring with Jazz at the Philharmonic during five seasons. She had also worked with Nat King Cole.