Music Journalist and Producer. Born into a prosperous family, Helen Margaret Oakley was educated in Toronto and Switzerland. A jazz enthusiast, she was a music journalist contributing to the Chicago Herald Tribune, Down Beat magazine, Tempo, Swing, and Jazz Hot. She organized jazz concerts and produced recording sessions for the Okeh and Master/Variety record labels. After her brother was killed in France during World War II, Helen volunteered for the Women’s Army Corps where her journalistic background led to her assignment with the OSS, eventually serving as an undercover courier. After the war she became engaged to jazz critic and journalist Stanley F. Dance. They married in 1947. Collaborating, Helen and Stanley continued writing for jazz periodicals and authored numerous album liner notes. Their contributions to jazz were recognized by the White House, and they attended state dinners with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Clinton. In 1987 Helen’s book “Stormy Monday: the T-Bone Walker Story” was published. Yale University houses the Helen Oakley Dance and Stanley F. Dance Archive containing their jazz correspondence and reference material spanning a period of eight decades.
Music Journalist and Producer. Born into a prosperous family, Helen Margaret Oakley was educated in Toronto and Switzerland. A jazz enthusiast, she was a music journalist contributing to the Chicago Herald Tribune, Down Beat magazine, Tempo, Swing, and Jazz Hot. She organized jazz concerts and produced recording sessions for the Okeh and Master/Variety record labels. After her brother was killed in France during World War II, Helen volunteered for the Women’s Army Corps where her journalistic background led to her assignment with the OSS, eventually serving as an undercover courier. After the war she became engaged to jazz critic and journalist Stanley F. Dance. They married in 1947. Collaborating, Helen and Stanley continued writing for jazz periodicals and authored numerous album liner notes. Their contributions to jazz were recognized by the White House, and they attended state dinners with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Clinton. In 1987 Helen’s book “Stormy Monday: the T-Bone Walker Story” was published. Yale University houses the Helen Oakley Dance and Stanley F. Dance Archive containing their jazz correspondence and reference material spanning a period of eight decades.
Bio by: O'side Native
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