Helen Merrill
Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milcetic on July 21, 1930 in New York City) … Read Full Bio ↴Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milcetic on July 21, 1930 in New York City) is an internationally known jazz vocalist.
Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades and she is popular with fans of jazz in Japan and Italy (where she lived for many years) as well as in her native United States. She has recorded and performed with some of the most notable figures in the American jazz scene.
Youth and early career in the states
Merrill was born in 1930 to Croatian immigrant parents. She began singing in jazz clubs in the Bronx at the age of fourteen. By the time she was sixteen, Merrill had taken up music full time. In 1952, Merrill made her recording debut when she was asked to sing "A Cigarette For Company" with the Earl Hines Band; the song was released on their Xanadu album. Etta Jones made her debut on the same album.
At this time she was married to musician Aaron Sachs. They divorced in 1956.
As a result of the exposure she received from "A Cigarette for Company" and two subsequent singles recorded for the Roost record label, Merrill was signed by Mercury Records for their new EmArcy label.
In 1954, Merrill recorded her first (and to date most acclaimed) LP, an eponymous record featuring legendary jazz trumpet player Clifford Brown and bassist/cellist Oscar Pettiford, among others. It was to be one of Brown's last recordings, as he was killed in a car accident just two years later. The album was produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, who was then just twenty-one years old. The success of Helen Merrill prompted Mercury to sign her for an additional four-album contract.
Merrill's follow-up to Helen Merrill was the 1956 LP, Dream of You, which was produced and arranged by bebop arranger and pianist Gil Evans. Evans' work on Dream of You was his first in many years. His arrangements on Merrill's laid the musical foundations for his work in following years with Miles Davis.
Success abroad
After recording sporadically through the late 1950s and 1960s, Merrill spent much of her time touring Europe, where she enjoyed more commercial success than she had in the United States. She settled for a time in Italy recording an album there, and doing live concerts with jazz notables Chet Baker, Romano Mussolini, and Stan Getz. Merrill returned to the U.S. in the 1960s, but moved to Japan in 1967 after touring there. Merrill developed a following in Japan that remains strong to this day. In addition to recording while in Japan, Merrill became involved in other aspects of the music industry, producing albums for Trio Records and hosting a show on a Tokyo radio station.
Later career
Merrill returned to the US in 1972 and has continued recording and regular touring since then. Her later career has seen her experiment in different music genres. She has recorded a bossa nova album, a Christmas album and a record's worth of Rodgers and Hammerstein, among many others.
Two albums from Merrill's later career have been tributes to past musical partners. In 1987, Merrill and Gil Evans recorded fresh arrangements of their classic Dream of You; the new recordings were released under the title Collaboration and became the most critically acclaimed of Merrill's albums in the 1980s.
In 1987 she co-produced a CD "Billy Eckstine sing with Benny Carter" and sing in duet with Mr.B two ballads.
In 1995 she recorded Brownie: Homage to Clifford Brown as a tribute to the late trumpeter.
One of Merrill's millennium released recordings draws from her Croatian heritage as well as her American upbringing. Jelena Ana Milcetic, a.k.a. Helen Merrill (2000), combines jazz, pop and blues songs with several traditional Croatian songs sung in Croatian.
Helen Merrill has been married three times, first to musician Aaron Sachs, second time to UPI vice president the late Donald J Brydon, and third to arranger-conductor the late Torrie Zito. She has one child, a son, Allan P Sachs, also a singer, who is professionally known as Alan Merrill.
Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades and she is popular with fans of jazz in Japan and Italy (where she lived for many years) as well as in her native United States. She has recorded and performed with some of the most notable figures in the American jazz scene.
Youth and early career in the states
Merrill was born in 1930 to Croatian immigrant parents. She began singing in jazz clubs in the Bronx at the age of fourteen. By the time she was sixteen, Merrill had taken up music full time. In 1952, Merrill made her recording debut when she was asked to sing "A Cigarette For Company" with the Earl Hines Band; the song was released on their Xanadu album. Etta Jones made her debut on the same album.
At this time she was married to musician Aaron Sachs. They divorced in 1956.
As a result of the exposure she received from "A Cigarette for Company" and two subsequent singles recorded for the Roost record label, Merrill was signed by Mercury Records for their new EmArcy label.
In 1954, Merrill recorded her first (and to date most acclaimed) LP, an eponymous record featuring legendary jazz trumpet player Clifford Brown and bassist/cellist Oscar Pettiford, among others. It was to be one of Brown's last recordings, as he was killed in a car accident just two years later. The album was produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, who was then just twenty-one years old. The success of Helen Merrill prompted Mercury to sign her for an additional four-album contract.
Merrill's follow-up to Helen Merrill was the 1956 LP, Dream of You, which was produced and arranged by bebop arranger and pianist Gil Evans. Evans' work on Dream of You was his first in many years. His arrangements on Merrill's laid the musical foundations for his work in following years with Miles Davis.
Success abroad
After recording sporadically through the late 1950s and 1960s, Merrill spent much of her time touring Europe, where she enjoyed more commercial success than she had in the United States. She settled for a time in Italy recording an album there, and doing live concerts with jazz notables Chet Baker, Romano Mussolini, and Stan Getz. Merrill returned to the U.S. in the 1960s, but moved to Japan in 1967 after touring there. Merrill developed a following in Japan that remains strong to this day. In addition to recording while in Japan, Merrill became involved in other aspects of the music industry, producing albums for Trio Records and hosting a show on a Tokyo radio station.
Later career
Merrill returned to the US in 1972 and has continued recording and regular touring since then. Her later career has seen her experiment in different music genres. She has recorded a bossa nova album, a Christmas album and a record's worth of Rodgers and Hammerstein, among many others.
Two albums from Merrill's later career have been tributes to past musical partners. In 1987, Merrill and Gil Evans recorded fresh arrangements of their classic Dream of You; the new recordings were released under the title Collaboration and became the most critically acclaimed of Merrill's albums in the 1980s.
In 1987 she co-produced a CD "Billy Eckstine sing with Benny Carter" and sing in duet with Mr.B two ballads.
In 1995 she recorded Brownie: Homage to Clifford Brown as a tribute to the late trumpeter.
One of Merrill's millennium released recordings draws from her Croatian heritage as well as her American upbringing. Jelena Ana Milcetic, a.k.a. Helen Merrill (2000), combines jazz, pop and blues songs with several traditional Croatian songs sung in Croatian.
Helen Merrill has been married three times, first to musician Aaron Sachs, second time to UPI vice president the late Donald J Brydon, and third to arranger-conductor the late Torrie Zito. She has one child, a son, Allan P Sachs, also a singer, who is professionally known as Alan Merrill.
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Helen Merrill Lyrics
'Round Midnight It begins to tell, 'Round midnight, midnight. I do pretty we…
'S Wonderful Don't mind telling you, in my humble fash That you thrill…
A Tender Thing Is Love What is this thing called love This funny thing called love…
After You Who Though with joy I should be reeling That at last you…
After You Who? Though with joy I should be reeling That at last you…
All Of Me You took my kisses and you took my love, You taught…
Am I Blue I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
Am I blue? I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
Among My Souvenirs There's nothing left for me of days that used to…
And I Love Him "I love you" Hums the April breeze "I love you," Echo the hi…
Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home Free and easy, that's my style Howdy-do me, watch me smile F…
Anything Goes Times have changed And we've often rewound the clock Since…
April in Paris April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom Holiday tables under th…
Autumn in New York Autumn in New York Why does it seem so inviting Autumn in…
Autumn in Rome Autumn in Rome My heart remembers fountains where children p…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Autunno a New York Autumn in New York Why does it seem so inviting Autumn in…
Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little…
Baby Ain't I Good To You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Beautiful Love Beautiful love You are a mystery Beautiful love What have y…
Belowin In The Wind How many roads must a man walk down Before you call…
Bewitched After one whole quart of brandy, Like a daisy Iâ??m awake. …
Black Coffee I'm feeling mighty lonesome Haven't slept a wink I walk the …
Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair Black is the color of my true love's hair His face…
Blue Skies Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do I…
Born to Be Blue Some folks were meant to live in clover, But they are…
Boy On A Dolphin There's a tale that they tell of a dolphin And a…
By Myself The party's over, the game is ended, the dreams I…
Bye Bye Blackbird Blackbird, blackbird singing the blues all day Right outside…
Careless Love Love, oh love, oh careless love You've fly through my head…
Clear Out Of This World You're clear out of this world When I'm looking at you, I…
Cold Cold Heart I tried so hard my dear to show that you're…
Come Home Again I'll take you home again, Kathleen Across the ocean wild and…
Come Rain Or Come Shine I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you Come rain or…
Comes Love Once I lived the life of a millionaire Spending my money,…
Coventry Carol Lullay, Thou little tiny Child By, by, lully, lullay Lullay,…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Dearly Beloved Tell me that it's true, Tell me you agree, I was…
Devoted To You Darling you can count on me Till the sun dries up…
Don't Explain Hush now don't explain I know you raise Cain I'm glad you're…
Donna Donna On a wagon bound for market, There's a calf with a…
Dream Somewhere, someday We'll be close together, wait and see Oh,…
Easter Parade Never saw you look quite so pretty before. Never saw you…
Easy Come Easy Go Easy come, easy go, that's the way, If love must have…
End Of A Love Affair So I walk a little too fast, and I drive…
Everything Happens to Me I make a date for gown, You can bet your…
Falling In Love With Love Falling in love with love is falling for make-believe Fallin…
Folks Who Live On the Hill Many men with lofty aims, Strive for lofty goals, Others pla…
Forbidden Games Though it's forbidden for my arms to hold you And though…
Get Out Of Town My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
Glad To Be Unhappy Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting…
Good Morning Heartaches Good morning heartache, you old gloomy sight Good morning he…
Greensleeves Alas, my love, you do me wrong, To cast me off…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be lig…
He Was Too Good To Me There goes my young intended The thing has ended Regrets are…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams Funny, but…
House Of The Rising Sun There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising…
How Deep Is the Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no…
How's the World Treating You I've had nothing but sorrow Since you said we were through T…
I Am I Feel I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and…
I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You I need your love so badly, I love you, oh,…
I Fall In Love Too Easily I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
I Feel Pretty I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and…
I Get A Kick Out Of You My story is much too sad to be told But practically…
I Got It Bad Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears W…
I Got Rhythm I've got you under my skin I have got you deep…
I Love Paris Every time I look down on this timeless town Whether blue…
I Love The Nightlife "I love you" Hums the April breeze "I love you," Echo the hi…
I Remember Clifford I remember you-ooh You're the one who made my dreams come…
I See Your Face Before Me I see your face before me Crowding my every dream There is…
I Used To Be Color Blind Strange How a dreary world can suddenly change To a world as…
I Ve Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin I have got you deep…
I Want To Be Happy I'm a very ordinary man Trying to work out life's happy…
I Want You I'm a fool to want you I'm a fool to want…
I Will Survive If it takes forever I will wait for you For a…
I'll Be Around This is our fork in the road Love's last episode There's…
I'll Be Seeing You I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh good…
I'll Take You Home Again Kath I'll take you home again, Kathleen Across the ocean wild and…
I'm A Fool To Want You I'm a fool to want you I'm a fool to want…
I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
I'm Fool To Want You I'm a fool to want you I'm a fool to want…
I'm Just A Lucky So And So When I walk down the street Seems everyone I meet Gives me…
I'm Old Fashioned I am not such a clever one About the latest fads I…
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Hear that lonesome whippoorwill He sounds too blue to fly Th…
I've Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin I have got you deep…
I've Never Seen I've never seen you wake at dawn And brush a dream…
If I Fell If I fell in love with you would you promise…
If I Forget You If I loved you, Time and again I would try to…
If I Were a Bell Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
If Love Were All Please please play my music for me, I'm not sure of…
If You Go If you go away on this summer day Then you might…
In Love In Vain It's only human for anyone to want to be in…
In My Life There are places I'll remember all my life, Though some have…
It Don't Mean a Thing It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
It Never Entered My Mind Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Ive Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin I have got you deep…
I\'m Old Fashioned I am not such a clever one About the latest fads I…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Just Imagine Just imagine That he loves me dearly. Just imagine That I'm …
Just You Just Me Just you, just me Let's find a cozy spot To cuddle and…
Lady Be Good Listen to my tale of woe, It's terribly sad but…
Lady Madonna Lady Madonna, children at your feet, Wonders how you manage …
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of somethi…
Le Me Love You If someone makes you cry and you're feeling blue Let me…
Let Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so…
Let It Be When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary…
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow Oh the weather outside is frightful But the fire is so…
Let Me Love You If someone makes you cry and you're feeling blue Let me…
Let's Face the Music and Dance There may be trouble ahead, But while there's music and moon…
Let's Fall in Love Maybe I'm old fashioned, feeling as I do Maybe I am…
Let\'s Face the Music and Dance There may be trouble ahead, But while there's music and moo…
Lilac Wine I lost myself on a cool damp night Gave myself in…
Long Long Ago I could cry salty tears Where have I been all…
Love In Song Falling in love with love is falling for make-believe Fallin…
Lover Come Back To Me You went away I let you We broke the ties that bind I…
Lover Man I don't know why, but I'm feeling so sad I long…
Mack The Knife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Memories Of You Waking skies At Sunrise, Every sunset too, Seems to be Bring…
Mother Nature's Son Born a poor young country boy Mother Nature's son All day lo…
Mountain High Valley Low If you need me, I will be nearby Mountain high, valley…
My Favorite Things Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper ket…
My Funny Valentine Behold the way our fine feathered friend His virtue doth par…
My One Temptation I've got you under my skin I have got you deep…
Nearness Of You It's not the pale moon that excites me That thrills…
Night and Day Like the beat, beat, beat, Of the tom-tom; When the jungle s…
No Other Love No other love can warm my heart Now that I've known…
Nobody Else But Me I was a shy, demure type Inhibited, insecure type of maid I…
Nobody Knows I may get around, I may laugh a lot Now you'd…
Norwegian Wood I once had a girl, or should I say, she…
O Christmas Tree O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree! How are thy leaves so…
Out Of This World You're clear out of this world When I'm looking at you, I…
People Will Say We Don't throw bouquets at me Don't please my folks too much Do…
Pierre Il pleut Il pleut Sur les jardins alanguis Sur les roses de …
Poor Butterfly There's a story told of a little Japanese Sitting demurely '…
Remember I remember you-ooh You're the one who made my dreams come…
Remind Me Remind me not to find you so attractive Remind me that…
Round About Midnight It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight. I do pretty we…
S Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
Scarlet Ribbons I peeked in to say good-night And there I heard my…
September in the Rain The leaves of brown came tumblin' down, remember In Septembe…
September Song When I was a young man courting the girls I played…
Silent Night Silent night! Holy night! All's asleep, one sole light, Ju…
Sky Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do I…
Snowfall Snowfall Softly Gently drift down Snowflakes Whisper 'Neath…
Softly Love came to me Gay and tender Love came to me Sweet surrend…
Softly As in a Morning Sun Love came to me Gay and tender Love came to me Sweet surr…
Softly as in a morning sunrise Love came to me Gay and tender Love came to me Sweet surrend…
Solitude In my solitude You haunt me With dreadful ease Of days gone …
Someday my prince will come Somewhere waiting for me There is someone I'm longing to see…
Someone to watch over me There's a saying old, says that love is blind Still we're…
Something I Dreamed Last Night I can't believe that you're not here with me, To have…
Street Of Dreams Midnight, you heavy laden, it's midnight Come on and trade i…
Summertime It's summertime and the living is easy Fish are jumping and…
Teach Me Tonight Did you say that I've got a lot to learn…
The blues Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do I…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at…
The Days of Wine and Roses The days of wine and roses laugh and run away…
The End of a Love Affair So I walk a little too fast, and I drive…
The Folks Who Live On The Hill Many men with lofty aims, Strive for lofty goals, Others p…
The Last Rose Of Summer 'Tis the last rose of Summer Left blooming alone All her lov…
The Masquerade Is Over My blue horizon is turning grey And my dreams are drifting…
The More I See You Each time I look at you Is like the first time Each…
The Nearness Of You It's not the pale moon that excites me That thrills…
The Sounds Around The House The sounds around the house Are all the sounds I love…
The Summer Knows The summer smiles, the summer knows And unashamed, she sheds…
The Things We Did Last Summer The boat rides we would take, the moonlight on the…
The Third Man Theme When a zither starts to play You'll remember yesterday In it…
The Thrill Is Gone The thrill is gone The thrill is gone I can see it…
The Way We Were Don't throw bouquets at me Don't please my folks too much Do…
The Word You're just too marvelous, too marvelous for words Like "glo…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love than what I feel for…
There's No Business Like Show Business There's no business like show business like no business I…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling love is wonderful It's wonderful, so t…
This Time the Dream's on Me Somewhere, someday We'll be close together, wait and see Oh,…
Three Coins In The Fountain Three coins in the fountain, Each one seeking happiness. Thr…
Too Marvelous For Words You're just too marvelous, too marvelous for words Like "glo…
Two Sleepy People Here we are, out of cigarettes, Holding hands and yawning;…
We're All Alone Please please play my music for me, I'm not sure of…
What I Am I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
What Is This Thing Called Love What is this thing called love This funny thing called love…
What's New What's new How is the world treating you You haven't changed…
When I Fall In Love Maybe I'm old fashioned, feeling as I do Maybe I am…
When I Grow Too Old To Dream We have been gay, going our way Life has been beautiful,…
When Lights Are Low Listen to the melody entrancing Blending in a soft and sweet…
When The World Was Young It isn't by chance I happen to be a boulevardier,…
Where Flamingo's Fly Go for a ride In the still of the night And morning…
Wild Is The Wind Love me, love me, say you do Let me fly away…
Will You If it takes forever I will wait for you For a…
You If you go away on this summer day Then you might…
You And The Night And The Music You and the night and the music Fill me with flaming…
You Don T Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You Don’t Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You Win Again I'll take you home again, Kathleen Across the ocean wild and…
You Won't Forget Me You won't forget me, though you may try I'm part o…
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
You're Lucky To Me Whenever you're near all my tears disappear Dear it's plain …
Youd Be so Nice to Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
Your Eyes Your eyes Haunting this lonely place Filling this room with …
You`d Be So Nice To Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…