Background
She was born Helen J. Coggins, in Hudson, Massachusetts.
She was born Helen J. Coggins, in Hudson, Massachusetts.
In 1948, having changed her stage name, she appeared as one of the singers in a show at the Village Vanguard in New New York After being discovered singing at the Copacabana club, she became a vocalist with Vaughn Monroe"s orchestra, singing on the Camel Caravan radio and television programs. She also appeared in the Abbott and Costello movies as Clora McCoy, and as Eloise/Princess/Darlene.
In the same year, she featured in the early rock and roll movie, Mister Rock and Roll, which starred Alan Freed as himself and also featured Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Frankie Lymon, Lionel Hampton, Brook Benton and Ferlin Husky.
She also appeared with Buddy Holly, Little Richard and others as part of the Alan Freed Great Holiday Rock "n Roll Show in New York in 1957. One of her last records, "Mean to Maine", reached northern
40 in the United Kingdom singles chart in 1960. In later years she lived in Modesto, California, as Shaye Cogan-Morris.
She died in 2009 at the age of 85.