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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 76-100 of 116 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W150624 10-in. 7/7/1930 Nobody cares if I'm blue Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150675 10-in. 7/25/1930 I still get a thrill (Thinking of you) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150676 10-in. 7/25/1930 So beats my heart for you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150842 10-in. 9/26/1930 Just a little while Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150843 10-in. 9/26/1930 When the organ played at twilight Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150924 10-in. 10/31/1930 Wasting my love on you Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150925 10-in. 10/31/1930 Loving you the way I do Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150986 10-in. 11/26/1930 You're driving me crazy! Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W150987 10-in. 11/26/1930 He's my secret passion Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151173 10-in. 12/23/1930 The little things in life Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151174 10-in. 12/23/1930 Tears Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151225 10-in. 1/16/1931 I'm one of God's children (Who hasn't got wings) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151226 10-in. 1/16/1931 Blue again Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151334 10-in. 2/20/1931 Walkin' my baby back home Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, leader  
Columbia W151335 10-in. 2/20/1931 I've got five dollars Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151470 10-in. 3/27/1931 The tune that never grows old Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, composer, lyricist, leader  
Columbia W151471 10-in. 3/27/1931 By my side Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, leader  
Columbia W151585 10-in. 6/3/1931 Let's get friendly Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151586 10-in. 6/3/1931 I'm thru with love Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151670 10-in. 7/8/1931 It's the girl! Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151671 10-in. 7/8/1931 I'm an unemployed sweetheart (Looking for someone to love) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151773 10-in. 9/4/1931 Love letters in the sand Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151774 10-in. 9/4/1931 Mood indigo Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151852 10-in. 10/19/1931 Call me darling (Call me sweetheart, call me dear) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W151853 10-in. 10/19/1931 I'm for you a hundred per cent Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader, vocalist, contralto  
(Results 76-100 of 116 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Morse, Lee," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110542.

Morse, Lee. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110542.

"Morse, Lee." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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