Helen Forrest was one of the top female vocalists in the big-band era of American music. In 1942, she was voted the top female performer in the nation. Forrest sang with a wide variety of bands during her career, ranging from Benny Goodman to Artie Shaw. She was also known for her belief in and fight for civil rights. Forrest reportedly refused to perform at theaters until Billie Holiday, with whom she was touring, was allowed on stage. As was usual, popular musicians were offered opportunities to appear in film, and Forrest was no exception. The main bulk of her filmwork usually featured her in some sort of singing capacity, as one would expect. Her singing career continued until the early '90s, when she developed rheumatoid arthritis. She passed away in 1999, at age 82. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide