Helen Louise

American guitar player who popularized Hawaiian music (born August 2, 1887 in Seattle, WA - died December 12, 1919 at sea en route to Seattle, WA) Under the stage name Helen Louise, Greenus formed a successful vaudeville act with Hawaiian steel guitar player Frank Ferera, whom she married in June 1918 in New York City. As Louise And Ferera, the couple toured nationally and recorded many records between 1915-1919 not only for the "big three", Columbia, Victor, and Edison Records, but also for Emerson, Gennett, Operaphone, Paramount, Pathé, and Puritone (2). In 1917, they expanded their duo to a trio that included Helen's singing sister Irene Greenus on guitar and ukulele. Louise And Ferera's version of "Wailana Waltz" (a.k.a. "Drowsy Waters") on Columbia A2016 (1916) became the first of several large hits for them, selling more than 300,000 copies. Following the mysterious disappearance of Helen from board the steamship SS President traveling from Los Angeles to Seattle, Frank Ferera joined with Anthony Franchini and was able to continue his successful recording career throughout the 1920s.