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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 101-116 of 116 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W152173 10-in. 4/28/1932 When the lights are soft and low Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W152174 10-in. 4/28/1932 Lawd, you made the night too long Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W152290 10-in. 8/26/1932 Moonlight on the river Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, contralto  
Columbia W152291 10-in. 8/26/1932 Something in the night Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano vocalist, contralto  
Brunswick 1285W-1288W 10-in. 9/2/1925 Golden dream girl Palala’s Hawaiians Guitar duet (Hawaiian) composer  
Edison 10582 10-in. 9/17/1925 Golden dream girl Jack Stillman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 63361 10-in. 3/2/1938 When I lost you Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 63362 10-in. 3/2/1938 Shadows on the wall Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 63363 10-in. 3/2/1938 I see your face before me Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 63364 10-in. 3/2/1938 Careless love Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 63365 10-in. 3/2/1938 Sing me a song of Texas Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 63366 10-in. 3/2/1938 I need lovin' Lee Morse vocalist, contralto  
Decca 76391 5/19/1950 Don't ever change a picture on the wall Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys vocalist, contralto  
Decca 76392 5/19/1950 If you only knew Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys vocalist, contralto  
Decca 76393 5/19/1950 Lonesome darlin' Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys vocalist, contralto  
Decca 76394 5/19/1950 Longing Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys vocalist, contralto  
(Results 101-116 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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