Helen Morgan

Helen Morgan was an born 2 August 1900 in rural Danville, Illinois. She was born 'Helen Riggins' to a farmer and schoolteacher but became 'Morgan' when her mother remarried. By 20 she had taken voice lessons and was singing in speakeasies in Chicago. Neither her large bosom, nor her deep voice were fashionable during the '20s, but nevertheless she became a wildly popular torch singer. Her heart bled about hard living and heartbreak onto her accompanist's piano. This draped-over-the-piano look became her signature look while performing at Billy Rose's Backstage Club in 1925. Morgan drank too much and was often drunk during these performances, despite the National Prohibition Enforcement Act passed in 1919. During this period several Chicago gangsters tried to help fund her various attempts to open her own nightclub. However, Prohibition agents kept too strict an eye on her and her attempts failed.

Filmography

• Six-Cylinder Love, 1923
• The Heart Raider, 1923
• Scandals, 1925
• Show Boat, 1929 (as Julie La Verne she sang Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man and Bill)
• Applause, 1929 (sang What Wouldn't I Do For that Man and Give Your Little Baby Lots of Lovin)
• Glorifying the American Girl, 1930 (sang What Wouldn't I Do For that Man)
• Roadhouse Nights, 1930 (sang It Can't Go On Like This)
• The Gigolo Racket, 1931 (sang Nobody Breaks My Heart and I Know He's Mine)
• Manhattan Lullaby, 1933 (sang The Stork Song)
• The Doctor, 1934 (sang One Little Smile)
• Frankie and Johnnie, 1934 (sang Give Me a Heart to Sing To and If You Want My Heart)
• You Belong to Me, 1934 (sang When He Comes Home to Me)
• Marie Galante, 1934 (sang Song of a Dreamer and Serves Me Right for Treating You Wrong)
• Sweet Music, 1935 (sang I See Two Lovers)
• Go Into Your Dance, 1935 (sang The Little Things You Used to Do)
• Show Boat, 1936 (as Julie La Verne she sang Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man and Bill)