Ella Mae Morse (b. September 12 1924, Mansfield, Texas – d. October 16 1999, Bullhead City, Arizona) was an American popular singer. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old. Dorsey believed she was 19, and when he was informed by the school board that he was now responsible for her care, he fired her. In 1942, at the age of 17, she joined Freddie Slack's band, with whom in the same year she recorded Cow Cow Boogie Capitol Records' first gold single. She also originated the wartime hit Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet, which was later popularized by Nancy Walker in the film Broadway Rhythm. In 1943, she began recording solo. She sang in a wide variety of styles, and she had hits on both the pop and rhythm and blues charts. However, she never became a major star. Her biggest solo success was Blacksmith Blues (1952). She ceased recording in 1957 but continued performing until 1987. Morse had six children from two marriages. Her music career was profiled in Nick Tosches' 1984 book, The Unsung Heroes of Rock 'N' Roll: The Birth of Rock in the Wild Years Before Elvis. Morse died of respiratory failure in Bullhead City, Arizona, aged 75.
Notes
- It is sometimes erroneously reported that Morse recorded with Bill Haley & His Comets in the 1950s. This is not true, although she did record versions of songs also recorded by Haley such as Razzle-Dazzle and Forty Cups of Coffee.
