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Harry B. Smith

Harry Bache Smith (December 28, 1860 – January 1, 1936) was a writer, lyricist and composer. The most prolific of all American stage writers, he is said to have written over 300 librettos and more than 6000 lyrics. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composers Victor Herbert and Reginald De Koven. He also wrote the book or lyrics for several versions of the Ziegfeld Follies.

Smith was born in Buffalo, New York to Josiah Bailey Smith (born 1837) and Elizabeth Bach (born 1838). According to his autobiography First Nights and First Editions (Boston: Little, Brown, 1931), Smith's actual name at birth was Henry Bach Smith. He married twice. His first wife was Lena Reed (born August 21, 1868), whom he married on October 12, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. They had a son named Sydney Reed Smith (born July 15, 1892). Smith's second wife was the actress Irene Bentley (c. 1870 – June 3, 1940). They married on November 23, 1906 in Boston, Massachusetts, after she had been divorced on June 12, 1906 by her first husband James Thomas Sothoron, Jr. (1867–1913). Bentley retired from the stage in 1910 and died at Allenhurst, New Jersey. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. While on a brief holiday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on New Year's Day in 1936, Smith died of a heart attack in his room at the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel.

Smith worked on many of the famous musical theatre productions of his time. His younger brother Robert Bache Smith (June 4, 1875 – November 6, 1951) was also a successful lyricist.

Harry Smith's archive is largely held at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 28, 1860 (Buffalo), Died January 1, 1936 (Atlantic City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1894 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, arranger, songwriter, author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 278 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-15503 10-in. 12/15/1914 Brown October ale Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with male vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15814 10-in. 3/19/1915 We'll take care of you all Edna Brown ; James F. Harrison Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-16054 12-in. 5/27/1915 Gems from A modern Eve Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-16055 12-in. 5/27/1915 Gems from Nobody home Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-16056 12-in. 5/28/1915 Gems from The lady in red Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-17126 12-in. 2/7/1916 Gems from Very good Eddie Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-17127 12-in. 2/7/1916 Gems from Sybil Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-19308 12-in. 2/23/1917 Gems from Love o' Mike Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19317 10-in. 2/28/1917 I wonder why Marion Harris ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21456 10-in. 2/19/1918 Gypsy love song William F. Larkin Male vocal solo, with cello and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21900 10-in. 5/2/1918 Gypsy love song Emilio de Gogorza Baritone vocal solo, with violin, bells, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25352 10-in. 6/16/1921 When you gave your heart to me John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25523 10-in. 8/18/1921 I wonder if you still care for me? Charles Hart Male vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27559 10-in. 2/20/1923 Man in the moon Lucy Isabelle Marsh Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27769 10-in. 4/23/1923 Song of the brown October ale Shannon Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-28152 10-in. 6/27/1923 Brown October ale Reinald Werrenrath Baritone vocal solo, with male vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30756 10-in. 9/5/1924 Gypsy love song Ralph Crane Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-32196 12-in. 4/1/1925 Gems from The love song Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-32460 10-in. 4/22/1925 The magic of moonlight is love Hope Hampton Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor B-32463 10-in. 4/22/1925 I hear love call me Hope Hampton Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-32595 10-in. 5/13/1925 Mamie Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor CVE-33981 12-in. 12/10/1925 Gems from Princess Flavia Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-36583 10-in. 11/8/1926 Someone Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor CVE-37316 12-in. 12/15/1926 Gems from Countess Maritza Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-40195 10-in. 10/20/1927 I live, I die for you! The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 101-125 of 278 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Harry B.," accessed May 3, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588.

Smith, Harry B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588.

"Smith, Harry B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588

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