Frances Wayne

American jazz vocalist.

Born August 26, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Died February 6, 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

In the 1940's she sang with the bands of [a=Sam Donahue], [a=Charlie Barnet] and later [a=Woody Herman], where she met Herman's arranger [a=Neal Hefti] whom she married. In 1946, Hefti formed his own band with Wayne as singer. Later in her career she performed with smaller ensembles. She did a few one-night stands at Donte's in 1974.

Sister of jazz saxophonist [a=Nick Jerrett].

She sang on three recordings that charted in the U.S., all sung as the vocalist for Woody Herman and His Orchestra. First came "The Music Stopped" (#10, 1944), "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)" (1945, #18), and "Gee, It's Good to Hold You" (#17, 1946). Though the song never charted, Wayne is also known for her version of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", which she recorded first with Herman in 1945 and later with Hefti in 1953.

She was on the cover of [i]Down Beat[/i] magazine June 15, 1945.