Of all the memorable voices in jazz, there was none that was exactly comparable to Helen Humes's. Her high-pitched, happy sound graced the Count Basie Orchestra, in which she replaced Billie Holiday in 1938. Four years with the band, and many as a single, led to a long period of semi-retirement, from which Contemporary Records helped her to emerge with her first LP for the label in 1959. With Marty Paich as arranger and conductor, she was backed by an ensemble of Hollywood heavyweights for this 1960 collection of ballads, rhythm songs, and a swinging, uptempo "St. Louis Blues."

with Teddy Edwards, Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Art Pepper, Al Porcino, Andre Previn, Jack Sheldon, Ray Triscari, Leroy Vinnegar, Ben Webster, and others