Helen Ward was an American jazz singer born on September 19, 1916, in New York City. She came from a musical family and began her singing career while still in high school, performing with bands such as the one led by Eddy Duchin. Her professional career took off in 1934 when she joined Benny Goodman's band, having already gained two years of experience in the industry. Her collaboration with Goodman led to a booking on the Let's Dance radio program, thanks to impresario Billy Rose.

Ward married Albert Marx in the late 1930s, and he famously arranged for Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall concert to be recorded as a souvenir for her. This recording was later released by Columbia Records. Throughout the 1940s, she worked with bands led by Hal McIntyre and Harry James and transitioned to a role as a radio show producer for WMGM.

Her personal life saw her marrying several times, including to audio engineer William Savory, who was part of the team that invented the LP. Ward continued to perform sporadically, including occasional tours with Goodman in the 1950s, but largely retired by 1960. She made a brief comeback in the late 1970s and early 1980s, performing in New York City clubs and releasing her final album, "The Helen Ward Song Book Vol. I," in 1981.

Helen Ward passed away on April 21, 1998, at Vencor Hospital in Arlington, Virginia. Her discography includes albums such as "It's Been So Long" and "The Complete Helen Ward on Columbia," and she contributed as a guest artist on several notable recordings with other jazz legends.