My name is Jeffrey Tucker. I have been a huge fan of Helen Forrest since I was 14. My mother, Villa Tucker, knew good swing and jazz music and taught me a lifelong appreciation of it. One afternoon in the autumn of 1960, she was driving me home from high school and they played a record on KSFO radio, "ItÌ¢âÂã¢s Been a Long, Long Time," by Harry James and sung by an incomparable voice. I was spellbound and asked Mother who it was. She promptly told me it was Helen ForrestÌ¢âÂÛonly the best singer of her generation and her personal favorite. I asked her why we didnÌ¢âÂã¢t have any of her records only to find out that Mother had sold all of them with her other 78s when we left St. Paul. So I began a search to collect as many Helen Forrest records I could find. At that time, very few of them were available as reissues on 33 and extended play 45 r.p.m. discs.
Years later in 1976, we went to see Helen in person at JacksonÌ¢âÂã¢s Penthouse near FishermanÌ¢âÂã¢s Wharf. I brought several records for her to autograph. Mother told me that would be presumptuous and rude. The moment we entered the room, Mother recognized her. I went up to Helen Forrest and introduced myself. She was a very nice and gracious person. She not only autographed my records, she invited Mother and me to sit at her table. They hit it off immediately and talked like old friends. Mother told her: Ì¢âÂÒMy husband and I saw you with Harry James at the Prom Ballroom in 1942; you were sensational!Ì¢âÂå We even went out to dinner with Helen, Michael, and some friends after the show. We saw her again several times at various clubs in San Francisco and at an outdoor concert with Harry James at the Concord Pavilion in 1978. I sent her orchids on several of those occasions. What a sweetheart! She even autographed her autobiography, "I Had the Craziest Dream," for me! I have since collected all of her recordings with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Dick Haymes on CD.
When I found out there was no permanent marker on Helen's grave at Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Los Angeles, I too was shocked and very unhappy. Like Kelli, I have my suspicions why that is the situation. Presumably, Helen got no financial help when she died at the Motion Picture Home. I would be proud and happy to donate money to a suitable memorial for Helen. Please let's just not do it in Las Vegas because it is so fake, glitzy, and pretentious -- the exact opposite qualities of a Helen Forrest.
Why is it not possible to write to the cemetery and ask them if we can donate a suitable marble marker and have it placed there? (I think it would cost about $8,000, so it won't be inexpensive.) But I do think that would be the most fitting tribute with a simple inscription: The Voice of the Big Bands Helen Forrest 1917-1999. Surely there must be a way to do that and other people out there who would want to be aware of this unfortunate situation and would help us raise the money. Please let me know your thoughts. I am in this for the count. If we can find someone who can create a Helen Forrest website, that might be a good start where we could publicize our appeal. Sincerely, Jeff.
Hello Cheryl & Kelli:
My name is Jeffrey Tucker. I have been a huge fan of Helen Forrest since I was 14. My mother, Villa Tucker, knew good swing and jazz music and taught me a lifelong appreciation of it. One afternoon in the autumn of 1960, she was driving me home from high school and they played a record on KSFO radio, "ItÌ¢âÂã¢s Been a Long, Long Time," by Harry James and sung by an incomparable voice. I was spellbound and asked Mother who it was. She promptly told me it was Helen ForrestÌ¢âÂÛonly the best singer of her generation and her personal favorite. I asked her why we didnÌ¢âÂã¢t have any of her records only to find out that Mother had sold all of them with her other 78s when we left St. Paul. So I began a search to collect as many Helen Forrest records I could find. At that time, very few of them were available as reissues on 33 and extended play 45 r.p.m. discs.
Years later in 1976, we went to see Helen in person at JacksonÌ¢âÂã¢s Penthouse near FishermanÌ¢âÂã¢s Wharf. I brought several records for her to autograph. Mother told me that would be presumptuous and rude. The moment we entered the room, Mother recognized her. I went up to Helen Forrest and introduced myself. She was a very nice and gracious person. She not only autographed my records, she invited Mother and me to sit at her table. They hit it off immediately and talked like old friends. Mother told her: Ì¢âÂÒMy husband and I saw you with Harry James at the Prom Ballroom in 1942; you were sensational!Ì¢âÂå We even went out to dinner with Helen, Michael, and some friends after the show. We saw her again several times at various clubs in San Francisco and at an outdoor concert with Harry James at the Concord Pavilion in 1978. I sent her orchids on several of those occasions. What a sweetheart! She even autographed her autobiography, "I Had the Craziest Dream," for me! I have since collected all of her recordings with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Dick Haymes on CD.
When I found out there was no permanent marker on Helen's grave at Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Los Angeles, I too was shocked and very unhappy. Like Kelli, I have my suspicions why that is the situation. Presumably, Helen got no financial help when she died at the Motion Picture Home. I would be proud and happy to donate money to a suitable memorial for Helen. Please let's just not do it in Las Vegas because it is so fake, glitzy, and pretentious -- the exact opposite qualities of a Helen Forrest.
Why is it not possible to write to the cemetery and ask them if we can donate a suitable marble marker and have it placed there? (I think it would cost about $8,000, so it won't be inexpensive.) But I do think that would be the most fitting tribute with a simple inscription: The Voice of the Big Bands Helen Forrest 1917-1999. Surely there must be a way to do that and other people out there who would want to be aware of this unfortunate situation and would help us raise the money. Please let me know your thoughts. I am in this for the count. If we can find someone who can create a Helen Forrest website, that might be a good start where we could publicize our appeal. Sincerely, Jeff.