Jessie Matthews

Jessie Margaret Matthews (11 March 1907 – 19 August 1981) was an English actress, dancer and singer who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s, with her career continuing into the post-war period. After a string of hit stage musicals and films in the mid-1930s, such as Evergreen, Matthews developed a following in the USA, where she was dubbed "The Dancing Divinity". Her British studio was reluctant to let go of its biggest name, however, which resulted in offers for her to work in Hollywood being repeatedly rejected. After the decline of her film career, Matthews achieved a comeback in her native Britain when she took over the role of Mary Dale in the popular BBC Radio serial The Dales (previously known as Mrs Dale's Diary).

Birth and Death Data: Born Soho (district in London, England, UK), Died August 19, 1981 (Eastcote (area in the west of Greater London, England, part of the London Borough of Hillingdon) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1937

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
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 135-b]	10-in.	approximately October 1927	Just a memory	Jessie Matthews	Female vocal solo, with piano solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 135-a]	10-in.	approximately October 1927	My heart stood still	Jessie Matthews	Female vocal solo, with piano solo	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 20056-a]	12-in.	August 1927	Brunswick medley	Rex Evans	Instrumental and vocal	vocalist, soprano vocal
Brunswick	[Br (U.K.) cat 20056-b]	12-in.	August 1927	Brunswick medley	Rex Evans	Instrumental and vocal	vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	TB 2124	10-in.	4/17/1936	I nearly let love go slipping through my fingers	Jessie Matthews		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	TB 2125	10-in.	4/17/1936	Got to dance my way to heaven	Jessie Matthews		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	TB 2749	10-in.	1/13/1937	Head over heels in love	Jessie Matthews		vocalist, soprano vocal
Decca	TB 2751	10-in.	1/13/1937	May I have the next romance with you?	Jessie Matthews		vocalist, soprano vocal

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Matthews, Jessie," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330283.

Matthews, Jessie. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330283.

"Matthews, Jessie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.