Ben Selvin
Ben Selvin | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Benjamin Bernard Selvin |
Born | New York City, U.S. | March 5, 1898
Died | July 15, 1980 New York City, U.S. | (aged 82)
Genres | Jazz, big band |
Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader, record producer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Benjamin Bernard Selvin (March 5, 1898 – July 15, 1980)[1] was an American musician, bandleader, and record producer. He was known as the Dean of Recorded Music.
Selvin was born in
According to
Early career (1919–1927)
Selvin started recording for Victor in 1919. He proceeded to record for almost all record companies at the time including Paramount, OKeh, Emerson, Lyric, Arto, Cardinal, Vocalion, Pathe, Federal, Brunswick, Grey Gull, Banner (and the related dime store labels), and Columbia. From 1922 to 1925, over half of his records were on Vocalion, but he apparently did not have an exclusive contract with any of these labels until he signed with Columbia in 1927.[5]
Columbia
From 1927 to 1934 Selvin was artists and repertoire (A&R) director for Columbia Records, where his many productions included musicians Mannie Klein, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, and Bunny Berigan. Many of these recordings are collectable and prized (especially those recorded in 1931–1934).[4][5]
There were incorrect reports that Ben Selvin's Band played under the name "Perley Stevens and his Orchestra". Perley Stevens occasionally played with Ben Selvin's Band and many others, including Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras and Paul Whiteman's Band. During the Columbia era, Selvin recorded under many different names (for
- The Broadway Nitelites
- The Knickerbockers
- The Columbians
- The Cavaliers
- The Radiolites
- Barney Trimble and his Oklahomans
- Jerry Mason and his Californians
- The Harmonians
- Rudy Marlow and his Orchestra
- Columbia Photo Players
- Frank Auburn and his Orchestra
- Kolster Dance Orchestra
- Lloyd Keating and his Music
- Earl Marlow and his Orchestra
- Ed Loyd and his Orchestra
- Ray Seeley and his Orchestra
- Sam Nash and his Orchestra
- Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra
- Johnny Walker and his Orchestra
- Chester Leighton and his Sophomores
- Wally Edwards and his Orchestra
- Roy Carroll and his Sands Point Orchestra
- Buddy Campbell and his Orchestra
- Golden Terrace Orchestra
- Bar Harbor Society Orchestra
- Ted Raph and his Orchestra
- Georgia Moonlight Serenaders
- Cloverdale Country Club Orchestra
- Ed Parker and his Orchestra
- Jerry Fenwyck and his Orchestra
After Columbia
Under his own name, Selvin had accepted an exclusive contract to
Selvin, who was known for his ability to write orchestral arrangements rapidly and to oversee multiple recording sessions, became a central figure in the success of World Broadcasting. His experience there led him to play a founding role in
External audio | |
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You may hear Ben Selvin's collaboration with John Serry on his album Squeeze Play in 1956 Here on Archive.org |
In 1953, Selvin left his post as general manager in the Southern Music Publishing Co. and emerged as an
Subsequently, he served as the musical director for a recording in 1954 withAfter retirement, he became a consultant to
Honours
The Guinness Book of World Records states that Ben Selvin made a record 9,000 recordings as either a bandleader, violinist or recording manager from 1919 to 1966.[20] The cumulative output of recorded songs credited to him over the decades has been estimated to total between 13,000-20,000 different titles.[21] In recognition of his achievements, Selvin was awarded a gold disk by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1963.[21]
Selected discography
Popular recordings from Selvin's extensive discography include:[22][23]
- "The Original Charleston" (the Columbia 78rpm version)
- The Knickerbockers (Ben Selvin & His Orch.)
- NYC – Apr. 10th, 1925
- Voc. vocal breaks by Ben Selvin
- Columbia 355–D, mx.140514–1
- "Margie"
- Selvin's Novelty Orchestra
- NYC – Nov., 1920
- Voc. Arthur Hall
- Grey Gull L–1036–(a), mx.J–3–10
- "So This Is Venice"
- Ben Selvin & His Moulin Rouge Orchestra
- NYC – Dec., 1923
- Voc. Irving Kaufman
- Vocalion A–14757, mx.12641
- "Steppin' in Society" (the Columbia 78 rpm version)
- The Knickerbockers
- NYC – May 26th, 1925
- Columbia 391–D, mx.W–140623–2
- "We'll Have a New Home (In the Morning)"
- Ben Selvin & His Orchestra
- NYC – Dec. 28th, 1927
- Vocs. unidentified trio
- Columbia 1274–D, mx.W–145445
- Annette Hanshaw
- (Ben Selvin & His Orchestra – vocs. Annette Hanshaw & The Rollickers)
- NYC – Feb. 11th, 1930
- Diva Records 3106–G; Harmony 1106–H; Velvet Tone 2106–V
- (Felix Bernard – Johnny S. Black)
- (Six-million seller – No. 1 hit for 13 weeks, 24 in charts)
- Selvin's Novelty Orchestra
- NYC – Nov. 20th, 1919
- Victor 18633–A, mx.23344–3
- (John Kellette – Jaan Kenbrovin)
- (No. 1 hit for 4 weeks)
- Selvin's Novelty Orchestra
- NYC – Jul. 31st, 1919
- Victor 18603–A, mx.B–22966–6
- (Richard Rodgers – Lorenz Hart)
- (No. 1 hit for 4 weeks)
- The Knickerbockers
- NYC – Jul. 15th, 1925
- Columbia 422–D, mx.W–140765
- (Richard Rodgers – Lorenz Hart)
- (No. 2 hit)
- The Knickerbockers
- NYC – Jul. 15th, 1925
- Columbia 422–D, mx.W–140766
- (Jimmy McHugh – Dorothy Fields)
- (No. 2 hit)
- The Knickerbockers
- Voc. Vaughn De Leath
- NYC – Jun. 1st, 1928
- Columbia 1424–D, mx.W–146380
- (Ray Henderson – Buddy DeSylva – Lew Brown)
- (No. 2 hit)
- Eddie Thomas' Collegians (and/or) The Broadway Nitelites (Ben Selvin & His Orch.) –
- Voc. Jack Parker
- NYC – Oct. 19th, 1928
- Columbia 1604–D, mx.W–147140–3
- (Harry Warren – Al Dubin)
- (No. 2 hit)
- Ben Selvin & His Orchestra
- Voc. Howard Phillips
- NYC – Jun. 28th, 1934
- Columbia 2936–D, mx.152766
Archived reccordings
- The Discography of American Historical Recordings at the University of California - Santa Barbara includes an extensive collection of Ben Selvin's audio recordings on the Brunswick, Columbia, Victor and Vocalion labels which are accessible for online listening.[21]
Death
Ben Selvin died in July 1980.[2]
Bibliography
- Johnson, Richard J., and Shirley, Bernard H. American Dance Bands on Record and Film 1915–1942. Rustbooks, 2010.
- Rust, Brian. American Dance Discography. Arlington House, 1975.
References
- ^ "Ben Selvin (1898-1980)". Syncopatedtimes.com. 2 March 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ISBN 978-0-214-20512-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-935717-8
- ^ a b c d e "From 'Dardanella' On A Stroh To Stacked Tapes". The New York Times. 13 December 1964. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-87000-248-9Ben Selvin Discograqphy on books google.com
- ^ The New York Times - From 'Dardanella " On A Stroh to Stacked Tapes - Ben Selvin Interview December 13, 1964 p. 24 on New York times Archive nytimes.com
- ^ The Billboard - "Selvin to Quit Peer For RCA" 14 February 1953 p. 17 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google. Books.com
- ^ The Billboard - "Name Selvin to Camden Label" 22 August 1953 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google Books.com
- ^ The Billboard - Music - Name Selvin to Camden Label - "The Billboard Magazine" August 22, 1953 p. 17 - Ben Selvin exec in RCA 's Thesaurus Division
- ^ "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 16 September 1957. p. 24. Retrieved October 10, 2021 – via Google Books.
- ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of compositions and arrangements by John Serry in "The John J. Serry Sr. Collection" p. 18 archived at the University of Rochester on esm.rochester.edu
- ^ The Billboard - "Melachrino Set For Thesaurus" 27 March 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus George Melachrino on Google Books
- ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "Squeeze Play" audio recording of compositions and arrangements by John Serry in "The John J. Serry Sr. Collection" p. 19 archived at the University of Rochester on esm.rochester.edu
- ^ The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus" Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
- ^ The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
- ^ The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm
- ^ The Billboard Music-Radio - "Thesaurus in Pact for Granz Transcriptions" 18 August 1956 p. 39 Ben Selvin RCA Thesaurus on Google Books.com
- ^ Congressional Record - Appendix "Benjamin Selvin, A Credit to His Community - Extension of Remarks by of Hon. Steven B. Derounian of New York in the House of Representatives Monday, April 1, 1963. Biography of Ben Selvin p. A1946 Ben Selvin A Credit to His Community on Google Books
- ^ Guiness Bool of World Records - Sterling Publishing Company 1971 p. 203 Guinness World Records Ben Selvin on Google Books
- ^ a b c Discography of American Historical Recordings - Ben Selvin Biography on adp.library.ucsb.edu
- ISBN 978-0-87000-248-9Ben Selvin Discography on books google.com
- ^ "Selvin's Orchestra - Discography of American Historical Recordings". Adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
External links
- Ben Selvin and his Orchestra (1920's) performing on archive.org
- The Library of Congress - National Jukebox - Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra performing on records (1919-1920) on www.loc.gov
- Ben Selvin on The European Library.org
- Ben Selvin on Bnf.fr(in French)
- Ben Selvin recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.