Early years
Helen’s early blues influences were Hot Tuna, Reverend Gary Davis, Little Willie Littlefield, Katie Webster, and Memphis Slim. Her performing career started out in 1986 as a folk singer and guitarist playing small clubs around the San Francisco Bay Area. Eventually, she added piano to her act and started playing larger venues, local concerts, and festivals.
In 1990, thanks to the recommendation of a DJ at KVMR radio station in Nevada City, she opened as a ‘tweener for Bo Diddley to a crowd of 10,000 at the Sacramento Blues Festival. She also played at clubs such as the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley and The Palms in Davis, where she opened for artists including John Hammond, John Hartford, Little Charlie & the Night Cats, and the Cajun band Beausolieu.
Playing the Pescadero Art and Fun Festival in Pescadero, CA, August, 1992
Today
In June 2018, Helen joined what then become a popular coastside band from the hills of La Honda, California, Three On The Tree. Helen joined as the fourth member of a guitar/bass/drums trio, which has since grown to include lap steel, fiddle, and a 3-piece horn section. Three on the Tree performs regularly at coastside venues, playing a mixture of old-time country, Western swing, rockabilly, and originals.
More recently, Helen restarted her solo thing, performing regularly around the coast on guitar, National resonator, and piano.
Performing at Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside, California, April 2024.