Hugo Frey

Hugo Frey (26 August 1873 – 13 February 1952) was an American pianist, violinist, composer, songwriter, conductor, and arranger. He was a prolific editor for piano sheet music, the primary audience being the "living room" pianist, providing simplified arrangements of some of the more difficult pieces.

In the 1920s he was pianist with The Troubadours and led and arranged for the Manhattan Merrymakers, and was "a prolific piano roll editor".

In 1921 Swiss classical pianist Rudolph Ganz described Frey as "the best of the composers of so-called bad music, and therefore preferable to the bad composers of so-called good music".

Birth and Death Data: Born August 26, 1873, Died February 13, 1952

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1914 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, leader, piano, arranger, lyricist

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-15079 10-in. 7/23/1914 Ev'ry road is the right road (When the right little girl is along) Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-17712 10-in. 5/19/1916 Uncle Tom Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-18456 10-in. 9/25/1916 Money blues Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-18751 10-in. 11/22/1916 Molly Dhu Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-19020 10-in. 1/8/1917 Topsy Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor C-19021 12-in. 1/8/1917 Havanola Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-21835 10-in. 5/8/1918 Calicoco Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor C-21836 12-in. 5/8/1918 Mother's garden Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-21837 10-in. 5/8/1918 My dough boy Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor C-21883 12-in. 6/3/1918 Dodola Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-22077 10-in. 7/29/1918 Mary Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus composer  
Victor B-22346 10-in. 12/16/1918 Rockin' the boat Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with xylophone solo composer  
Victor C-22347 12-in. 12/16/1918 Head over heels Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-22390 12-in. 2/27/1919 Chong Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-22395 12-in. 3/4/1919 Oh, my dear Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-22725 10-in. 3/18/1919 You're the one (That I want) Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and xylophone composer  
Victor B-22903 10-in. 6/5/1919 Yearning Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-22977 10-in. 7/25/1919 Roses at twilight Frank E. Banta ; Hugo Frey Piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23275 10-in. 9/25/1919 Peggy Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23276 10-in. 9/25/1919 Yellow Dog blues Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23284 10-in. 10/1/1919 Happy Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-23298 10-in. 10/10/1919 Patches Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23300 10-in. 10/15/1919 Nobody ever Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23301 10-in. 10/15/1919 Mother's red, red rose Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-23325 10-in. 11/5/1919 My laddie Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-23859 12-in. 3/19/1920 Ching-a-ling's jazz bazaar Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with 2 pianos and male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor C-24823 12-in. 1/28/1921 Sally Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-25307 10-in. 5/18/1921 Cho-Cho-San Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
Victor BVE-25307 10-in. 8/25/1926 Cho-Cho-San Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
Victor B-25614 10-in. 9/20/1921 Why, dear? Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-26231 10-in. 3/3/1922 Can you forget Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-26268 10-in. 3/23/1922 California Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-26269 10-in. 3/23/1922 Lovey dove Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-26337 10-in. 5/3/1922 Pick me up and lay me down in dear old Dixieland Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-26338 10-in. 5/3/1922 Lovable eyes Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-26901 10-in. 9/27/1922 To-morrow Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor B-26902 10-in. 9/27/1922 Lovely Lucerne Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with yodeling instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor B-27189 10-in. 11/29/1922 Rosalie Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-27413 10-in. 1/19/1923 The clinging vine Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27414 10-in. 1/19/1923 Don't be too sure Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27628 10-in. 2/28/1923 Lady Butterfly Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27629 10-in. 2/28/1923 Caroline Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27657 10-in. 3/14/1923 Marchéta Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27658 10-in. 3/14/1923 Gone Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27801 10-in. 4/4/1923 Beside a babbling brook Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with whistling leader  
Victor B-27802 10-in. 4/4/1923 Down among the sleepy hills of Ten-Ten-Tennessee Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-27822 10-in. 4/12/1923 Runnin' wild! Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-27823 10-in. 4/12/1923 Swingin' down the lane Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor B-27855 10-in. 4/26/1923 Yes! We have no bananas Great White Way Orchestra ; Billy Murray Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor B-27856 10-in. 4/26/1923 Wild-flower Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with whistling leader  
Victor B-28014 10-in. 5/18/1923 Blue Hoosier blues Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28015 10-in. 5/18/1923 Stella Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28046 10-in. 6/1/1923 When June comes along with a song Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with whistling leader  
Victor B-28047 10-in. 6/1/1923 Born and bred in Brooklyn The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28099 10-in. 6/19/1923 Love tales Hugo Frey ; Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28210 10-in. 6/22/1923 Oh Susanna Hugo Frey ; Great White Way Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus leader  
Victor BVE-28262 10-in. 6/30/1927 Roses of Picardy Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28515 10-in. 8/29/1923 Kashmiri song (Un canto de Kashmiri) The Troubadours Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-28530 10-in. 9/4/1923 Bonnie Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28582 10-in. 9/21/1923 Love, my heart is calling you Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28583 10-in. 9/21/1923 Songs of yesterday The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28707 10-in. 10/2/1923 Maggie! 'Yes ma'am!' Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28766 10-in. 10/24/1923 Bonnie Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band composer, leader  
Victor B-28767 10-in. 10/24/1923 A love song Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28903 10-in. 11/1/1923 I never had a Mammy The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor B-28904 10-in. 11/1/1923 Ev'ry night I cry myself to sleep over you The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28958 10-in. 11/16/1923 Tweet, tweet Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band, with whistling leader  
Victor B-28959 10-in. 11/16/1923 I've been a fool Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-28984 10-in. 11/26/1923 Down on the farm (They all ask for you) Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor B-28985 10-in. 11/26/1923 Toodle-oo Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-29128 10-in. 12/14/1923 When Mother sings 'Sweet and low' The Manhattan Merrymakers ; Peerless Quartet Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Victor B-29129 10-in. 12/14/1923 Before you go The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-29185 10-in. 1/7/1924 Supposing The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-29520 10-in. 2/18/1924 Ted Morse medley Hugo Frey ; The Manhattan Merrymakers Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-29521 10-in. 2/18/1924 Goodnight The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-29770 10-in. 4/4/1924 Georgia lullaby The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-30116 10-in. 5/16/1924 Sally Lou George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30132 10-in. 5/23/1924 Nobody's child George Price ; The Troubadours Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-30133 10-in. 5/23/1924 You know me Alabam' George Price ; The Troubadours Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-30170 10-in. 6/9/1924 Rock-a-bye my baby blues Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (yodeling) leader  
Victor B-30334 10-in. 6/27/1924 My dream girl Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-30335 10-in. 6/27/1924 The merry widow : Waltz Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-30811 10-in. 9/11/1924 Come back to me Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor B-31015 10-in. 10/15/1924 I wonder what's become of Sally? Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-31482 10-in. 12/5/1924 Serenade waltz Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-31483 10-in. 12/5/1924 Deep in my heart, dear Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-31539 10-in. 12/23/1924 In Shadowland Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano, leader  
Victor B-31540 10-in. 12/23/1924 I'm afraid to care for you The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor B-31798 10-in. 2/3/1925 The love song you will forget Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor B-32458 10-in. 4/22/1925 Lovely lady Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor B-32459 10-in. 4/22/1925 I'm so ashamed Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Victor BVE-33395 10-in. 9/18/1925 Sand man The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-33396 10-in. 9/18/1925 Kosher Kitty Kelly Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BVE-33887 10-in. 11/20/1925 When I dream of the last waltz with you Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor BVE-34643 10-in. 2/23/1926 Waters of the Perkiomen Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor BVE-37535 10-in. 1/11/1927 Who do you love? Smith Brothers Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-37767 10-in. 2/11/1927 Au revoir (But not good-bye) B.F. Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra ; Joseph M. Knecht Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-38152 10-in. 3/9/1927 Who do you love? Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor CVE-38603 12-in. 4/21/1927 Popular songs of yesterday : Medley waltz no. 3 The Troubadours Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CVE-38604 12-in. 4/21/1927 Popular songs of yesterday : Medley waltz no. 4 The Troubadours Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor CVE-38800 12-in. 5/12/1927 Popular songs of yesterday : Medley waltz no. 2 The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor CVE-39205 12-in. 6/2/1927 Popular songs of yesterday : Meldey waltz no. 1 The Troubadours Jazz/dance band arranger  
Victor BVE-39613 10-in. 6/30/1927 Kiss me again Hugo Frey ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band leader  
Victor BVE-41139 10-in. 12/2/1927 Rubenola Rudy Wiedoeft Saxophone solo, with instrumental quartet composer  
Victor BVE-45294 10-in. 6/21/1928 Nobby gobs Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-49721 10-in. 2/21/1929 Allegro scherzando Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-49744 10-in. 2/23/1929 Speed Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-49745 10-in. 2/23/1929 Scherzando Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-53403 10-in. 5/14/1929 College march Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BS-83684 10-in. 8/6/1934 The man on the flying trapeze Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble arranger  
Victor [Trial 1917-05-14-01] Not documented 5/14/1917 To a water-lily Joseph C. Smith Violin solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Trial 1920-04-10-01] Not documented 4/10/1920 Happy one-step Danceland Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor [Trial 1922-04-08-01] 10-in. 4/8/1922 Can you forget Big Four Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor [Trial 1924-04-18-05] 10-in. 4/18/1924 Sally Lou George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 46828 10-in. 6/13/1916 Uncle Tom Samuel Jospe ; Howard Kopp Piano and drums duet composer  
Columbia 46983 10-in. 8/31/1916 Uncle Tom Blue and White Marimba Band Marimba band composer  
Columbia 46999 10-in. 9/6/1916 Uncle Tom Vess Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra composer  
Columbia 47401 10-in. 3/6/1917 Money blues Frank E. Banta ; Howard Kopp Piano and drum duet composer  
Columbia 77518 10-in. 11/19/1917 Calicoco Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 77519 10-in. 11/19/1917 When you come back Joseph C. Smith Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 79201 10-in. 5/24/1920 Happy Prince's Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80028 10-in. 10/14/1921 Cho-cho-san Eddie Elkins' Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
Columbia 80256 10-in. 3/21/1922 Can you forget? Garber-Davis Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81395 10-in. 12/6/1923 Bonnie Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 49028 12-in. 12/12/1916 Money blues Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49053 12-in. 1/2/1917 Havanola Prince's Band ; G. Hepburn Wilson Band composer  
Columbia 49055 12-in. 1/2/1917 Topsy Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49224 12-in. 6/2/1917 Dodola waltz Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49691 12-in. 11/8/1919 Nobody ever Happy Six Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 49962 12-in. 5/9/1921 Deep in your eyes [from The half moon] Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia W141947 10-in. 4/12/1926 For heaven's sake Frank Harris ; Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W143298 10-in. 1/12/1927 Who do you love? Charles Kaley Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Columbia W143346 10-in. 1/24/1927 Who do you love? Don Voorhees and his Earl Carroll's Vanities Orchestra ; Charles Kaley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 143513 10-in. 2/23/1927 Who do you love? Astorites ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W144012 10-in. 4/9/1927 'Tis the last rose of summer The Artist Ensemble Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia 74248 12-in. approximately February 1921 The yodel-dodel-doh Century Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76391 12-in. approximately 1919 Havanola London Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 76497 12-in. approximately 1919 You're the one London Dance Orchestra ; Corelli Windeatt Orchestra composer  
Columbia W109538 10-in. July 1928 Skönhetsfläcken : Fox trot Henry Corsell Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
OKeh S-7182 10-in. approximately Jan. 1920 Nobody ever Conway's Band Band composer  
OKeh S-70192 10-in. Sept. 1921 Cho Cho San Harry Raderman's Jazz Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
OKeh S-71876 10-in. Sept. 1923 Bonnie Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-72596 10-in. June 1924 Sally Lou Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W80248 10-in. 12/10/1926 Who do you love? Happy Hour Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Brunswick 867 10-in. approximately mid-1917 Havanda Peerless Dance Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5211-a] 10-in. approximately Mar. 1918 Calicoco E. B. Thiele Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick 3804 10-in. approximately June 1920 Happy Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 11634-11637 10-in. 10/16/1923 Bonnie Oriole Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 13404-13405 10-in. 6/26/1924 Sally Lou Ray Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 13498-13500 10-in. 7/10/1924 Sally Lou Ray Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E21418-E21420 10-in. 2/2/1927 Who do you love? Ernie Golden ; Hotel McAlpin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Edison 5154 10-in. 11/17/1916 Uncle Tom Olga Bibor Hungarian Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison 5307 10-in. 1/19/1917 Money bues Jaudas' Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 5382 10-in. 2/20/1917 Havanola (Have another) Jaudas' Band Band composer  
Edison 6680 10-in. 3/20/1919 Mary Tuxedo Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 6955 10-in. 10/2/1919 Nobody ever Tuxedo Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 8089 10-in. 6/22/1921 Cho-cho-san Conrad's Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
Edison 8717 10-in. February 1923 Rosalie Stevens' Dance Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Edison 9099 10-in. 7/27/1923 Bonnie Broadway Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9737 10-in. 9/25/1924 Sally Lou Broadway Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9901 10-in. 12/10/1924 Who do you love? Charlie Fry ; Million Dollar Pier Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 10883 10-in. 3/17/1926 For heaven's sake Lieutenant Matt Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 10898 10-in. 3/29/1926 For heaven's sake Jack Stillman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 11442 10-in. 1/17/1927 Who do you love? Don Voorhees and his Earl Carroll's Vanities Orchestra ; Harold Yates Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Hugo," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108917.

Frey, Hugo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108917.

"Frey, Hugo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108917

External Sources

Wikipedia: Hugo Frey (musician)

IMDb: Hugo Frey

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Frey, Hugo, 1873-1952 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no90000902

Wikidata: Hugo Frey (musician) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5933959

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/36475195

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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