Ella Mae Morse, born in Mansfield, Texas on September 12, 1924, was one of the most talented and overlooked vocalists of the '40s, she blended jazz, country, pop, and R&B. At times she came remarkably close to what would be known as rock & roll. When she wasn't yet 14, Morse had her first taste of the big time, when Jimmy Dorsey's band came to Dallas for a stay at the Adolphus Hotel and she called for an audition. Unbeknownst to her, the band needed a new female vocalist. Believing that Morse was 19, as she and her mother claimed, Dorsey hired her. When he received a letter from the school board declaring that he was responsible for Morse's care, Dorsey fired her. When she was 17, Morse joined former Dorsey pianist Freddie Slack's band in 1942 and they cut, "Cow Cow Boogie," which became Capitol Records' first gold single. "Mr. Five by Five," also recorded by Morse with Slack was also a hit for Capitol in 1942. She also originated the wartime hit "Milkman,