Helen Kane
Helen Kane (born Helen Clare Schroeder, August 4, 1904 – September 26, 1966) was an American singer and actress. Her signature song was "I Wanna Be Loved by You" (1928), featured in the 1928 stage musical Good Boy. The song was written for Good Boy by the songwriting team Kalmar and Ruby. Kane's voice and appearance were thought to be a source for Fleischer Studios animators when creating Betty Boop. Kane sued the studio for stealing her signature "boop-oop-a-doop" style, but the judge decided that the proof of this was insufficient, and dismissed the case. Fleischer Studios later admitted that Kane had been the inspiration for Betty Boop. |
Birth and Death Data: Born The Bronx (borough of New York City, New York, United States), Died September 26, 1966 (Jackson Heights (neighborhood in Queens, New York City, USA) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1930
Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-45880 | 10-in. | 7/16/1928 | Get out and get under the moon | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-45881 | 10-in. | 7/16/1928 | That's my weakness now | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-47539 | 10-in. | 9/20/1928 | I wanna be loved by you | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-47540 | 10-in. | 9/20/1928 | Is there anything wrong in that? | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-48501 | 10-in. | 12/20/1928 | Don't be like that | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-48502 | 10-in. | 12/20/1928 | Me and the man in the moon | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49698 | 10-in. | 1/30/1929 | Button up your overcoat | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49699 | 10-in. | 1/30/1929 | I want to be bad | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-50945 | 10-in. | 3/15/1929 | Do something | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-50946 | 10-in. | 3/15/1929 | That's why I'm happy | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-53560 | 10-in. | 6/13/1929 | I'd do anything for you | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-53563 | 10-in. | 6/14/1929 | He's so unusual | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-57126 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | Ain'tcha? | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-57127 | 10-in. | 10/29/1929 | I have to have you | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-59639 | 10-in. | 3/18/1930 | I'd go barefoot all winter long (if you'd fall for me in the spring | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-59695 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | Dangerous Nan McGrew | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-59696 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | Thank your father | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-59697 | 10-in. | 4/12/1930 | I owe you | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-63102 | 10-in. | 7/1/1930 | Readin' ritin', rhythm | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-63103 | 10-in. | 7/1/1930 | I've got "it" (but it don't do me no good) | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-63106 | 10-in. | 7/2/1930 | My man is on the make | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-63107 | 10-in. | 7/2/1930 | If I knew you better | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, soprano vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-Test-106 | 10-in. | 6/7/1928 | That's my weakness now | Helen Kane | Female vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, soprano vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kane, Helen," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106992.
Kane, Helen. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106992.
"Kane, Helen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Kane, Helen - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n94006778
Wikidata: Helen Kane - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1281772
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/69120616
MusicBrainz: Helen Kane - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0e615ed9-57b7-422c-a920-f6fa55ea6c0f
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/334349 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/334349
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