Daye began her career at age 17 by singing in Dan Murphy's Musical Skippers
big band while still in high school in 1935, continuing with Murphy through 1937. She then worked briefly with
Mal Hallett before beginning work with
Gene Krupa, with whose orchestra she sang from 1938 to 1941. Krupa and Daye recorded 63 titles together, with her biggest hit being "Drum Boogie", which was recorded in the last session she did with Krupa. After leaving Krupa, Daye retired from music at the age of 23, marrying
Corky Cornelius.
Anita O'Day took her spot in Krupa's orchestra. Daye had a daughter in 1943, but Cornelius (then in the
Casa Loma Orchestra) died suddenly later that year, after which she returned to her singing career. ==Marriage and death==