Helen McKay

Helen McKay was a dance band singer, active during the 1930s and 1940s. She was the first person to sing on the then high-definition standard (405 lines) in test transmissions by the BBC for the RadiOlympia Exhibition on the 26th August 1936. During the transmission, McKay sang Here's Looking At You, written especially for the transmission by Ronnie Hill. McKay gave an interview to The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in 1986, in which she spoke about her experience.

During the 1930s, McKay was a vocalist in the Lew Stone dance band. In the 1940s McKay was a contributor to the war effort with ENSA concerts on the forces programme. McKay was a member of the Debonaires, a quartet, including Alex Dore, Nadia Dore and Harry Brooker. The Debonaires sang with the Ambrose Orchestra, Felix Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders, Eric Winstone and his band, and also had a late night radio show.

In the 1950s, the personnel of the Debonaires changed to Nadia Dore, Bob Brown, Helen McKay and Bob Winette. McKay was to marry Bob Winnette, a singer, musician and songwriter. Together, they formed The Song Pedlars quartet.

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