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Lee Morse

Lena Corinne "Lee" Morse (née Taylor; November 30, 1897 – December 16, 1954) was an American jazz and blues singer-songwriter, composer, guitarist, and actress. Morse's greatest popularity was in the 1920s and early 1930s as a torch singer, although her career began around 1917 and continued until her death in 1954.

Morse was known for her strong, deep singing voice and vocal range, which often belied her petite frame. She possessed a contralto vocal range, and one of her trademarks was her unique style of yodeling. Recording over 200 songs over her career, Morse was one of the most recorded female singers of the 1920s. She was also moderately successful as an actress on the Broadway stage. Her life and career, however, were marred by alcoholism. Morse's group the Blue Grass Boys had no relation either to their later namesake of Bill Monroe's nor bluegrass music.

In 2014, Morse's rendition of "If You Want the Rainbow" was used in an episode of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 30, 1897 (Cove), Died December 16, 1954 (Rochester)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: contralto, leader, composer, lyricist, songwriter

Notes: Described as "comedienne" in Victor ledgers.

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 116 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W147403 10-in. 12/10/1928 Just you and I Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble leader, vocalist, contralto, composer, lyricist  
Columbia W147442 10-in. 11/3/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano (takes 4-6); with alto saxophone, cornet, trombone, banjo, and piano (takes 1-3) leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148632 10-in. 5/27/1929 He's a good man to have around Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148633 10-in. 5/27/1929 I'm doing what I'm doing for love Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148784 10-in. 7/3/1929 Miss you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148785 10-in. 7/3/1929 In the hush of the night Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148846 10-in. 7/24/1929 Moanin' low Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148847 10-in. 7/24/1929 Sweetness Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148992 10-in. 9/11/1929 Sweetheart's holiday Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W148993 10-in. 9/11/1929 Love me Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149156 10-in. 10/18/1929 Look what you've done to me Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149160 10-in. 10/18/1929 If I can't have you (If you can't have me) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149469 10-in. 11/4/1929 My fate is in your hands Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149470 10-in. 11/4/1929 To be forgotten Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149684 10-in. 12/5/1929 A little kiss each morning (A little kiss at night) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149685 10-in. 12/5/1929 I love you, believe me, I love you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149773 10-in. 1/16/1930 Until love comes along Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W149774 10-in. 1/16/1930 Blue, turning grey over you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150032 10-in. 2/27/1930 'Tain't no sin (To dance around in your bones) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150033 10-in. 2/27/1930 I'm following you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150138 10-in. 3/27/1930 Cooking breakfast for the one I love Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150139 10-in. 3/27/1930 Sing, you sinners Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150570 10-in. 6/5/1930 Swingin' in a hammock Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150571 10-in. 6/5/1930 Seems to me Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150623 10-in. 7/7/1930 Little white lies Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, leader  
(Results 51-75 of 116 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morse, Lee," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110542.

Morse, Lee. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110542.

"Morse, Lee." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110542

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