Elmo Tanner
Encyclopedia
William Elmo Tanner, known as Elmo Tanner (August 8, 1904 – December 20, 1990) was an American singer, whistler
, bandleader and disc jockey
, best known for his whistling on the chart-topping song “Heartaches
” with the Ted Weems
orchestra. He earned the nicknames ““Whistler’s Mother’s “Boy””, “The Whistling Troubador,” and “the nation’s best-known whistler.” Tanner, like Bing Crosby
, was able to whistle from his throat due to the muscles in his larynx
.
. He grew up in Detroit
, moving with his family to Memphis
by 1926. Tanner worked there as a mechanic and liked to whistle and sing while he worked. One day, he had a repair job for a customer who happened to work at WMC
radio. After hearing Tanner singing while working on his car, the announcer suggested Tanner audition for the radio station. His on-air appearance brought a call from Paramount Records
, which had offices in Chicago.
area and had established himself as a professional musician. Although Elmo Tanner never gained a large reputation as a singer, (though occasionally featured as such with Weems,) it was as a vocalist that he made his initial recordings. He recorded a few dozen sides as a soloist for Paramount and Vocalion in 1927 through 1929. Interestingly, the Paramount discs appeared in the Race record
series, and the Vocalion sides were likewise marketed to African American
s. His versatility was noted by Vocalion, who utilized him to provide vocals for jazz outfits such as Jimmie Noone
and for more sedate recordings with the Victor Young
orchestra and with organist Eddie House. Not having signed an exclusive contract with any recording company, he was able to appear on the prestigious Victor
label with Nathaniel Shilkret
. In 1928 he formed a duet with Fred Rose
as “The Tune Peddlers” and appeared on radio stations WLS
, KYW
, and WBBM
.
song, "Make Believe"; the audience asked for an encore. Tanner's whistling became so popular that Perry Como
, another featured performer in the band, said “The whistler was the whole band.” In 1938 he appeared in the movie “Swing, Sister, Swing” with the Weems outfit. On occasion, Tanner’s lips would pucker up, interfering with his whistling. Although generally noted for his graciousness as a bandleader, Weems would have fun at Tanner’s expense, running him through the most difficult songs in his repertoire when he noticed Tanner was struggling. Perry Como said “I used to sit there in the bandstand and watch, and my heart would really bleed for the guy,” In an era when whistling was commonly featured on popular recordings, Tanner was often confused with Fred Lowry. People would come up to Tanner and ask if was true that he was blind. “Only on Saturday night,” he would reply. Ted Weems considered Tanner's whistling so important to his band, he insured the musician's throat with Lloyd's of London
for $10,000 in 1939. During this time period Tanner appeared on the popular show Beat the Band
with Weems which ran from January 28, 1940 until February 23, 1941.
Tanner, Ted Weems, and the rest of his orchestra joined the Merchant Marine in 1942. At (and intermittently before) his discharge in 1944 he pursued a solo career. He headlined in various nightclubs and theaters such as Chicago’s Oriental and Colosimo’s and at the Orpheum in Los Angeles alongside the King Sisters and Maurice Rocco. He would continue to perform songs that were associated with Weems, such as “Nola”. Tanner announced he would be fronting a twelve-piece band in September 1946. He took over the Andy Anderson unit that was based in Atlanta and signed on with the William Morris Agency
. His orchestra featured his whistling and vocals by Carol Bridges. However, this proved to be short-lived because of the surprise success of an old recording.
“Heartaches”, composed by Al Hoffman and John Klenner in 1931, was recorded as an unusual half-rumba, half washboard rhythm. Victor had assigned the recording of the song to Ted Weems and his Orchestra, and wanted it recorded quickly. Weems and his band had time for only one rehearsal before recording the song. Initially, Weems did not like the song; he decided to omit the lyrics by way of having Tanner whistle instead. While running through the song at rehearsal, someone thought of trying it with a speedier tempo than initially written. It was not a large seller initially, but a DJ in North Carolina began plugging the recording in 1947. This older recording went to the top of all the main charts in 1947, including sales, juke box play, and airplay. Unusually, two separate recordings were given equal credit in the charts. Victor’s version was recorded on August 4, 1933 and issued on Bluebird B5131. Decca’s recording was made on August 23, 1938 and originally appeared on catalog number 2020B. The hit records were credited to RCA Victor 20-2175 and Decca 25017, respectively. Altogether the recordings were credited with selling 8.5 million copies. Tanner said in a 1960 interview that neither he nor Ted Weems
received any compensation for the "Heartaches" re-issue as they both had let the contracts on the song expire while they were in the Merchant Marine.
Because of the renewed success of “Heartaches, Tanner joined the re-formed Weems outfit in March of 1947, and both were signed to Mercury records
. This later outfit often received poor reviews, with the exception of Elmo’s “outstanding” whistling, and it was Elmo’s whistling that audiences most responded to.
area in Treasure Island and became a permanent fixture on radio station WILZ starting in 1959, a position which lasted several years. During this time he continued to make recordings with orchestras such as David Carroll
and Billy Vaughn
to continued positive reviews. His association continued with Weems, making the occasional guest appearance with the band he was closely connected to. In the early 1960s, Tanner was also selling Datsun
s at a local St. Petersburg auto dealership.
on January 31, 1939 in Indianapolis
. Tanner met his second wife while working with the Weems band on Catalina Island. They had four children together: Elmo Jr., twins Margaret and Patricia, and John Emmet. By 1969 he was retired. Tanner underwent gall bladder surgery in 1985 and was able to recover at his home in St. Petersburg. He died on December 20, 1990 in St. Petersburg, Florida
. Tanner is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery
, Nashville, Tennessee.
Whistling
Human whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...
, bandleader and disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, best known for his whistling on the chart-topping song “Heartaches
Heartaches (song)
"Heartaches" is a popular song with music by Al Hoffman and lyrics by John Klenner. The song was published in 1931.-Ted Weems cover:The biggest recorded version of the song was by the Ted Weems Orchestra, with Elmo Tanner whistling...
” with the Ted Weems
Ted Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
orchestra. He earned the nicknames ““Whistler’s Mother’s “Boy””, “The Whistling Troubador,” and “the nation’s best-known whistler.” Tanner, like Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, was able to whistle from his throat due to the muscles in his larynx
Larynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
.
Early life
Tanner was born on August 8, 1904 in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. He grew up in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, moving with his family to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
by 1926. Tanner worked there as a mechanic and liked to whistle and sing while he worked. One day, he had a repair job for a customer who happened to work at WMC
WMC (AM)
WMC is a radio station in the Memphis, Tennessee market, broadcasting at 790 AM. It is one of the city's oldest radio stations and presently programs a sports format....
radio. After hearing Tanner singing while working on his car, the announcer suggested Tanner audition for the radio station. His on-air appearance brought a call from Paramount Records
Paramount Records
Paramount Records was an American record label, best known for its recordings of African-American jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson.-Early years:...
, which had offices in Chicago.
Early Recordings
By the late 1920s, Elmo Tanner had moved to the ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area and had established himself as a professional musician. Although Elmo Tanner never gained a large reputation as a singer, (though occasionally featured as such with Weems,) it was as a vocalist that he made his initial recordings. He recorded a few dozen sides as a soloist for Paramount and Vocalion in 1927 through 1929. Interestingly, the Paramount discs appeared in the Race record
Race record
Race records were 78 rpm phonograph records marketed to African Americans during the early 20th century, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. They primarily contained race music, comprising a variety of African American musical genres including blues, jazz, and gospel music, though comedy...
series, and the Vocalion sides were likewise marketed to African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s. His versatility was noted by Vocalion, who utilized him to provide vocals for jazz outfits such as Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone
Jimmie Noone was an American jazz clarinetist.- Background :...
and for more sedate recordings with the Victor Young
Victor Young
Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
orchestra and with organist Eddie House. Not having signed an exclusive contract with any recording company, he was able to appear on the prestigious Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
label with Nathaniel Shilkret
Nathaniel Shilkret
Nathaniel Shilkret was an American composer, conductor, clarinetist, pianist, business executive, and music director born in New York City, New York to an Austrian immigrant family.-Early career:...
. In 1928 he formed a duet with Fred Rose
Fred Rose
Fred Rose may refer to:*Fred Rose , publisher of country music*Fred Rose , Polish-born communist politician and trade union organiser in Canada*Fred Rose , cyclist...
as “The Tune Peddlers” and appeared on radio stations WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
, KYW
KYW (AM)
KYW is a class A AM radio station on 1060 kHz licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW is owned by the CBS Radio unit of CBS Corporation, and has broadcasted an all-news format since 1965. The station's studios are located on Market Street in Center City Philadelphia, and it transmitters...
, and WBBM
WBBM (AM)
WBBM is an all-news CBS radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV....
.
Ted Weems Orchestra and “Heartaches”
Tanner joined the Ted Weems band as a singer in 1929 and became a prominent feature of the group. Tanner's whistling talent was unveiled by accident. In high spirits on their way to their next performance, the band members were singing, yelling and whistling on the bus. When Tanner joined in, Weems was impressed enough to add a whistling segment to one of the band's sets. Tanner whistled the Show BoatShow Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
song, "Make Believe"; the audience asked for an encore. Tanner's whistling became so popular that Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
, another featured performer in the band, said “The whistler was the whole band.” In 1938 he appeared in the movie “Swing, Sister, Swing” with the Weems outfit. On occasion, Tanner’s lips would pucker up, interfering with his whistling. Although generally noted for his graciousness as a bandleader, Weems would have fun at Tanner’s expense, running him through the most difficult songs in his repertoire when he noticed Tanner was struggling. Perry Como said “I used to sit there in the bandstand and watch, and my heart would really bleed for the guy,” In an era when whistling was commonly featured on popular recordings, Tanner was often confused with Fred Lowry. People would come up to Tanner and ask if was true that he was blind. “Only on Saturday night,” he would reply. Ted Weems considered Tanner's whistling so important to his band, he insured the musician's throat with Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's of London
Lloyd's, also known as Lloyd's of London, is a British insurance and reinsurance market. It serves as a partially mutualised marketplace where multiple financial backers, underwriters, or members, whether individuals or corporations, come together to pool and spread risk...
for $10,000 in 1939. During this time period Tanner appeared on the popular show Beat the Band
Beat the Band
Beat the Band was a musical quiz show heard on NBC radio from 1940 to 1944 in two distinctly different series. The program popularized the show business catch phrase, "Give me a little traveling music," often uttered on TV a decade later by Jackie Gleason....
with Weems which ran from January 28, 1940 until February 23, 1941.
Tanner, Ted Weems, and the rest of his orchestra joined the Merchant Marine in 1942. At (and intermittently before) his discharge in 1944 he pursued a solo career. He headlined in various nightclubs and theaters such as Chicago’s Oriental and Colosimo’s and at the Orpheum in Los Angeles alongside the King Sisters and Maurice Rocco. He would continue to perform songs that were associated with Weems, such as “Nola”. Tanner announced he would be fronting a twelve-piece band in September 1946. He took over the Andy Anderson unit that was based in Atlanta and signed on with the William Morris Agency
William Morris Agency
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
. His orchestra featured his whistling and vocals by Carol Bridges. However, this proved to be short-lived because of the surprise success of an old recording.
“Heartaches”, composed by Al Hoffman and John Klenner in 1931, was recorded as an unusual half-rumba, half washboard rhythm. Victor had assigned the recording of the song to Ted Weems and his Orchestra, and wanted it recorded quickly. Weems and his band had time for only one rehearsal before recording the song. Initially, Weems did not like the song; he decided to omit the lyrics by way of having Tanner whistle instead. While running through the song at rehearsal, someone thought of trying it with a speedier tempo than initially written. It was not a large seller initially, but a DJ in North Carolina began plugging the recording in 1947. This older recording went to the top of all the main charts in 1947, including sales, juke box play, and airplay. Unusually, two separate recordings were given equal credit in the charts. Victor’s version was recorded on August 4, 1933 and issued on Bluebird B5131. Decca’s recording was made on August 23, 1938 and originally appeared on catalog number 2020B. The hit records were credited to RCA Victor 20-2175 and Decca 25017, respectively. Altogether the recordings were credited with selling 8.5 million copies. Tanner said in a 1960 interview that neither he nor Ted Weems
Ted Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
received any compensation for the "Heartaches" re-issue as they both had let the contracts on the song expire while they were in the Merchant Marine.
Because of the renewed success of “Heartaches, Tanner joined the re-formed Weems outfit in March of 1947, and both were signed to Mercury records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. This later outfit often received poor reviews, with the exception of Elmo’s “outstanding” whistling, and it was Elmo’s whistling that audiences most responded to.
Later career
Tanner left Weems in 1950 to open a restaurant in Nashville. This occupied him for a year and a half, but it proved to be a failure and Tanner suffered financially. He formed the Elmo Tanner Quartet and resumed touring for the next few years, until, tired of travel, he broke up his group in Seattle in 1958. He spent the next fourteen months in Birmingham as a disk jockey. He reunited briefly with Weems, then settled in the St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
area in Treasure Island and became a permanent fixture on radio station WILZ starting in 1959, a position which lasted several years. During this time he continued to make recordings with orchestras such as David Carroll
David Carroll
David Carroll may refer to:* David Carroll , American actor* David Carroll , American naturalist author and illustrator* David Carroll , composer and musical director...
and Billy Vaughn
Billy Vaughn
Richard "Billy" Vaughn was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, orchestra leader, and A&R man for Dot Records....
to continued positive reviews. His association continued with Weems, making the occasional guest appearance with the band he was closely connected to. In the early 1960s, Tanner was also selling Datsun
Datsun
Datsun was an automobile marque. The name was created in 1931 by the DAT Motorcar Co. for a new car model, spelling it as "Datson" to indicate its smaller size when compared to the existing, larger DAT car. Later, in 1933 after Nissan Motor Co., Ltd...
s at a local St. Petersburg auto dealership.
Personal life and death
Tanner was married to Verne Tanner. They lived in Chicago and divorced in 1936. He sneaked out between shows and married Eleanor Jones of BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
on January 31, 1939 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Tanner met his second wife while working with the Weems band on Catalina Island. They had four children together: Elmo Jr., twins Margaret and Patricia, and John Emmet. By 1969 he was retired. Tanner underwent gall bladder surgery in 1985 and was able to recover at his home in St. Petersburg. He died on December 20, 1990 in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. Tanner is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is a 250-acre cemetery located in Nashville, Tennessee.Mount Olivet has been continuously operated since its establishment in 1856. It serves as the final resting place for many of Middle Tennessee's political and business leaders, including several former governors of...
, Nashville, Tennessee.
Style
Tanner was noted for the ease with which he hit high notes and performed trills. He had the ability to whistle while Triple-tonguing. His range was from low G to high B. Besides musical whistling, he imitated birds for Disney.singles
- “Dawn of Tomorrow” – Paramount 12561 (recorded August 1927)
- “Calling Me Home” (Gilbert - Monaco) – Paramount 12564 (recorded August 1927)
- “I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In” (Abe Olman – Jack Yellen) – Paramount 12569 (recorded August 1927)
- “Dear Old Girl” (Morse - Buck) – Paramount 12569 (recorded August 1927)
- “Song of Hawaii” (Bories - Corbel) – Paramount 12532 (recorded September 1927)
- “After I Called You Sweetheart” (Little - Grossman) – Paramount 12532 (recorded September 1927)
- “Sing Me a Baby Song” (Donaldson - Kahn) – Paramount 12533 (recorded September 1927)
- “So Blue” – Paramount 12533 (recorded September 1927)
- “C'est Vous” – Vocalion 15637 (recorded September 1927)
- “My Blue Heaven” (Donaldson - George Whiting) – Paramount 12563 (recorded October 1927)
- “Just Once Again” (Donaldson - Ash) – Paramount 12563 (recorded October 1927)
- “Marvelous” (Peter Derose – May Breen Singh) – Paramount 12570 (recorded October 1927)
- “Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi” (Stokes - Vernon) – Paramount 12570 (recorded October 1927)
- “Girl of My Dreams” – Vocalion 15637 (recorded November 1927)
- “You Only Want Me When You're Lonesome” – Vocalion 15639 (recorded November 1927)
- “Tomorrow” – Vocalion 15639 (recorded November 1927)
- “Give Me a Night in June” (Cliff FriendCliff FriendCliff Friend was an accomplished songwriter and pianist. A member of Tin Pan Alley, Friend co-wrote several hits including "Lovesick Blues," "My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" and "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down," also known as the theme song to the Looney Tunes cartoon series.-Early life:Friend was...
) – Paramount 12564 (recorded November 1927) - “Rain” – Vocalion 15649 (recorded January 17, 1928 Chicago)
- “Away Down South in Heaven” – Vocalion 15650
- “Does It Make Any Difference to You” – Vocalion 15650
- “Rainy Day Pal” – Vocalion 15651 (recorded January 17, 1928 Chicago)
- “So Tired” – Vocalion 15649 (recorded January 18, 1928 Chicago)
- “Four Walls” – Vocalion 15651 (recorded January 18, 1928 Chicago)
- “That’s How I Know I Love You” – Vocalion 15693 (recorded March 26, 1928 Chicago)
- “If I Can’t Have You” – Vocalion 15694
- “I Still Love You” – Vocalion 15694 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)
- “Back In Your Own Back Yard” – Vocalion 15687 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)
- “Remember Me” – Vocalion 15687 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)
- “ Just Across the Street from Heaven” – Vocalion 15693 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)
- “Don’t Wait Until the Lights are Low” – Vocalion 15711 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)
- “Grieving” – Vocalion 15726 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)
- “I’ve Lived All My Life Just for You” – Vocalion 15711 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)
- “That Old Sweetheart of Mine” – Vocalion 15726 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)
- “Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time” – Vocalion 15731 (recorded October 15, 1928 Chicago)
- “Sonny Boy” – Vocalion 15731 (recorded October 15, 1928 Chicago)
- “Because I Know You're Mine” – Vocalion 15744 (recorded November, 1928)
- “Once in a Lifetime” – Vocalion 15744 (recorded November, 1928)
- “Marie” (Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
) – Paramount 12720 (recorded November 1928) - “My Old Girl's My New Girl Now” (Caesar - Friend) – Paramount 12720 (recorded November 1928)
- “Please Let Me Dream In Your Arms” – Paramount 12732 (recorded January 1929)
- “My Mother’s Eyes” – Paramount 12732 (recorded January 1929)
- “True Blue” – Paramount 12733 (recorded January 1929)
- “Who Do You Miss” – Paramount 12733 (recorded January 1929)
- “Out Where Moonbeams Are Born” – Vocalion 15814 (recorded July, 1929)
- “Now I’m in Love” – Vocalion 15814 (recorded July, 1929)
- “At Close of Day” – Vocalion 15825 (recorded July, 1929)
- “Ich Liebe Dich” – Vocalion 15825 (recorded July, 1929)
- “I Don't Want Your Kisses” – Vocalion 15829 (recorded July, 1929)
- “Sweetheart's Holiday” – Vocalion 15829 (recorded July, 1929)
- “Nobody’s Sweetheart” – MGM 10776
- “Every Time You Turn Me Down – MGM 10776
- “Whistling Paper Boy” – MGM 10886
- “Candy Lips” – MGM 10886
- “Tuscaloosa” (Schwartz - Fields) - MGM 10958A
- “My Angel” (Baron – Kanter - Malkin.) - MGM 10958B
- “Heartaches” – Dot 15112 (1953)
- “Nola” – Dot 15112 (1953)
- “Begin The Beguine” – Dot 15319 (1955)
- “Remembering” – Dot 15319 (1955)
- “Nightingale” – Dot 15411 (1955)
- “Avalon” – Dot 15411 (1955)
singles
- “Virginia Lee” – Vocalion 1518 (recorded July 1, 1930 Chicago)
- “Little White Lies” – Vocalion 1531 (recorded August 23, 1930 Chicago)
- “Moonlight on the Colorado” – Vocalion 1531 (recorded August 23, 1930 Chicago)
singles
- “Heartaches” – Bluebird B5131 (recorded August 4, 1933)
- “Lazy Weather” – Decca 822A (recorded May 15, 1936 Chicago)
- “Buffoon” (Zez ConfreyZez ConfreyEdward Elzear "Zez" Confrey was an American composer and performer of piano music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys," and "Dizzy Fingers."-Life and career:...
) – Decca 1884B (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) - “In My Little Red Book” – Decca 1695B (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York City)
- “Nola” (Felix ArndtFelix ArndtFelix Arndt was an American pianist and composer of popular music. His mother was the Countess Fevrier, related to Napoleon III....
) – Decca 2041 (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York City) - “The Cute Little Hat-Check Girl” (Al Stillman – Ray Bloch - Nat Simon) – Decca 2019B (recorded Aug. 23, 1938 Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) - “Heartaches” – Decca 2020, 25017 (recorded Aug. 23, 1938 Los Angeles)
- “Poor Pinocchio's Nose” – Decca 2408A (recorded Mar. 10, 1939 New York City)
- “The Young 'Uns Of The Martins And The Coys” – Decca 25286B (recorded Mar. 10, 1939 New York City)
- “The Chestnut Tree” – Decca 2380A (recorded Mar. 11, 1939 New York City)
- “I Love To Ride On A Choo-Choo Train” – Decca 2366B (recorded Mar. 11, 1939 New York City)
- “Moonlight” (Con ConradCon ConradCon Conrad was an American songwriter and producer.-Biography:Con Conrad was born Conrad K. Dober in New York City. He published his first song, "Down in Dear Old New Orleans", in 1912. Conrad produced the Broadway show The Honeymoon Express, starring Al Jolson, in 1913...
) – Decca 3044A, 25105 (recorded Oct. 5, 1939 New York City) - “Out Of The Night” (Harry Sosnik – Walter Hirsch) – Decca 3697A (recorded Jan. 27, 1941 New York City)
- “Rose Of The Rockies” – Decca 3828B (recorded Jan. 28, 1941 New York City)
- “Salud, Dinero y Amor” – Decca 3828A (recorded Jan. 28, 1941 New York City)
- “Having A Lonely Time” – Decca 4131 (recorded Dec. 9, 1941 Los Angeles)
- “Violets” (Green – Hill - Vallee) – Mercury 5052B
- “Mickey” (Moret – Williams) – Mercury 5062A (recorded May 1947)
- “The Martins and the Coys” (Cameron – Weems) – Mercury 5062A (recorded May 1947)
- “Sally Won’t You Come Back” – Mercury 5118
- “Ciribiribin” – Mercury 5118