Duncan, Helen

She is a singer born Helen Duncan born in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and growing up in California, who is now known as Helen Bernard Gray. She and her sister, Phyllis , made up the duo The Duncan Sisters and, moved to Memphis in 1974, where they met Pete Pedersen and Ian Gunther of Three Hat Productions. They were first noticed as singers on the hit “Weekend Two Step” from the Tender is the Night album with the THP Orchestra. They would appear on Sticky Fingers in 1978 and had a further two hits with “Takin’ a Chance on You” and “Wastin’ My Love”. Going out on their own in 1979 she and her sister released The Duncan Sisters, which became extremely successful and included the hits “Boys Will Be Boys” and “Sadness in My Eyes”. 1980 saw them appearing at many venues and 1981 was when they had their last hit “Too Damn Hot”. Coming out of the spotlight, with Helen later moving back to California in 1991, they both became session singers and she could be heard singing backing vocals on albums such as Floridays by Jimmy Buffett , where she is listed as Helen Duncan Bernard, King of the Blues by B.B. King, Pink Cadillac by John Prine and Rattle and Hum by U2. Still singing, she can currently be heard as a soloist for the First Church of Religious Science and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.

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