MISS LEE MORSE was one of the most prolific and popular recording stars in the country, way back in the mid-twenties to early thirties. She also recorded in 1938, and again in 1950, but there are periods of her life which are largely unaccounted for. Sadly, she passed away in 1954, a forgotten songbird.

Miss Morse was no angel; she could be confrontational, temperamental and fiery. Yet the sensitivity she brings to such songs as 'Shadows On The Wall' or 'When I Lost You' is heartbreaking. And in the next moment, she can be quite delightful, injecting spirit into fast tunes such as "Could I? I Certainly Could" or "Ain't That Too Bad".

Her popularity peaked during the years 1925-1931. She staged a brief comeback in 1938, after recovering from strep-throat, and then went unrecorded until 1950. Her history is fairly well-documented until she relocated to Rochester, New York in the late 1930's. And then, it's as if she vaporizes into thin air.

In those later years, her third husband helped her land some nightclub gigs in the Rochester area, and she even appeared on radio in that vicinity. The handful of recordings she made in 1950 show her still in excellent voice, swinging her way thru spirited performances, some of which can be found in the 'files' section here. The 'Photos' section of this group features a pictorial history of Miss Morse, her life and times.

Another Vintage Songbird, JANE GREEN, is featured in the 'Photos' section, and some of her music is also in 'Files'. Like Miss Morse, Jane was born in 1897. Her singing was exuberant and expressive, and she too deserves to be heard. Although Jane recorded only 26 different songs in her lifetime, she was was a big star in her day, but died at age 34 in 1931, soon after vaudeville waned.

Sadly, recording quality back then was primitive; the old 78's provided only mere hints of how great these two ladies, Lee and Jane, actually were. Lee Morse and Jane Green...they are both very, very fine indeed.