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Helen Clark

American vocalist in the 1910's & 20's. Born Rochester, New York, USA. She was called a contralto on some recordings and a mezzo-soprano on others, even a soprano on a few Victor discs. She recorded blues for Edison as Emma Johnson. She charted four times as a singer--three times alone, and once in a duet. "When I Waltz with You" hit #5 in the U.S. in 1913, "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile" hit #8 in 1917 and "One for All and All for One" hit #7 in 1918. In 1919 her duet with [a2918251] "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" hit #10. Her talent developed early in life for, even as a child, she was known for her phenomenal voice. She began singing in church choirs at the age of 9. When she was 17 she went to New York and studied under Madame Jaeger of the Metropolitan Opera for 2 years. She was among Edison's most popular Edison artists on cylinders and Diamond Discs. She was in the first George Gershwin musical to feature only his own work: the 1919 Broadway production of [i]La, La, Lucille[/i].