Born August 26, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Died February 6, 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts.
In the 1940's she sang with the bands of Sam Donahue, Charlie Barnet and later Woody Herman, where she met Herman's arranger Neal Hefti whom she married. In 1946, Hefti formed his own band with Wayne as singer. Later in her career she performed with smaller ensembles. She did a few one-night stands at Donte's in 1974.
Sister of jazz saxophonist [a=Nick Jerrett].
She sang on three recordings that charted in the U.S., all sung as the vocalist for Woody Herman and His Orchestra. First came "The Music Stopped" (#10, 1944), "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)" (1945, #18), and "Gee, It's Good to Hold You" (#17, 1946). Though the song never charted, Wayne is also known for her version of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", which she recorded first with Herman in 1945 and later with Hefti in 1953.
She was on the cover of Down Beat magazine June 15, 1945.