[5] O'Connell joined the Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early 1940s with "Green Eyes",[6] "Amapola", "Tangerine" and "Yours".

When her marriage ended in 1951, she resumed her career, achieving some chart success and making regular appearances on radio and television.

In 1953, O'Connell and Bob Eberly headlined TV's Top Tunes,[2] a summer replacement program for Perry Como's CBS television show.

In 1977, O'Connell was invited to join the "4 Girls 4" show comprising Rosemary Clooney, Margaret Whiting and Rose Marie.

Whiting and Rose Marie left the group and were replaced by Martha Raye and Kay Starr with the show being renamed The New 4 Girls.

(with Bob Eberly) #10 1942 Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry #18 1942 Not Mine #22 1942 Tangerine (with Bob Eberly) #1 1942 If You Build a Better Mousetrap (with Bob Eberly) #23 1942 I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean #12 1942 Wonder When My Baby’s Coming Home #22 1942 Take Me #7 1942 Brazil (with Bob Eberly) #14 Solo career with Capitol Records [15] 1951 Would I Love You (Love You, Love You) #16 1951 Slow Poke #8 1952 Be Anything (But Be Mine) #27 1952 Winter Can’t Quench the Fire of Love (with Gisele Mackenzie) #21 1953 Lipstick-A-Powder-'N-Paint (with Gisele Mackenzie) #20 [16] 1957 Green Eyes 1961 Recapturing the Excitement of the Jimmy Dorsey Era (with Bob Eberly) 1962 Here's Helen 1963 An Era Reborn with Helen O'Connell 1970 The Inimitable Helen O'Connell in a Beautiful Friendship 1971 Helen O' 1975 Christmas with Helen O'Connell O'Connell was married to wealthy playboy Clifford Smith, Jr., from 1941 to 1951, and novelist Tom T. Chamales from 1957 to 1960,[2] and had four daughters.

United Press International reported: “Police said they found 12 capsule sleeping pills in the car.”[18] She was transported to Hollywood Receiving Hospital where her stomach was pumped.