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Ben Selvin

Benjamin Bernard Selvin (March 5, 1898 – July 15, 1980) was an American musician, bandleader, and record producer. He was known as the Dean of Recorded Music.

Selvin was born in New York City, United States, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He started his professional life at age 15 as a fiddle player in New York City night clubs. Six years later, as leader of his own dance band, the Novelty Orchestra, he released what was later alleged to be the biggest-selling popular song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. "Dardanella" allegedly sold more than six million copies and an additional million pieces of sheet music—although in a joint interview with Gustave Haenschen, founding director of popular-music releases at Brunswick Records, Selvin described the alleged record-sales total as “nonsensical” and said the actual sales of “Dardanella” and other purported “million-sellers” in the 1920s was 150,000 discs. He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that was presented to Selvin on his retirement on March 14, 1963.

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Selvin recorded more musical sides (on 78-rpm discs) than any other person. One reason for this prolific output is that he recorded for dozens of different record labels during this productive time in the industry, using a different name for each label. His output has been estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 song titles.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1898 (New York City), Died July 15, 1980 (Manhasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, violin, vocalist, songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 651-675 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W151285 10-in. 2/6/1931 Ninety-nine out of a hundred wanna be loved Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151286 10-in. 2/6/1931 I surrender, dear Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151287 10-in. 2/6/1931 Love for sale Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W151307 10-in. 2/13/1931 I've got five dollars Emerson Gill and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W151308 10-in. 2/13/1931 We'll be the same Emerson Gill and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W151363 10-in. 2/27/1931 You said it Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W151364 10-in. 2/27/1931 Learn to croon Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W151365 10-in. 2/27/1931 Smile darn ya, smile Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Sunshine Boys Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W151366 10-in. 2/27/1931 African lament Enric Madriguera's Havana Casino Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151367 10-in. 2/27/1931 The one-man band Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Sunshine Boys Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W151368 10-in. 2/27/1931 Mama Inez Enric Madriguera's Havana Casino Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble leader  
Columbia [W]151423 10-in. 3/16/1931 If you should ever need me (You'll always find me here) Lew Conrad ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151424 10-in. 3/16/1931 Oh, Donna Clara Lew Conrad ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151425 10-in. 3/16/1931 You'll be mine in apple blossom time Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151426 10-in. 3/16/1931 I'm crazy 'bout my baby (And my baby's crazy 'bout me) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151451 10-in. 3/21/1931 Two hearts Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151452 10-in. 3/21/1931 Soldier on the shelf Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151453 10-in. 3/21/1931 The same as we used to do Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151485 10-in. 4/6/1931 Ev'rything that's nice belongs to you Teddy Raph and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151486 10-in. 4/6/1931 Dream a little dream of me Teddy Raph and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151487 10-in. 4/6/1931 When I take my sugar to tea Teddy Raph and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151488 10-in. 4/6/1931 Please don't talk about me when I'm gone Teddy Raph and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151547 10-in. 5/7/1931 Poor kid Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151548 10-in. 5/7/1931 Now you're in my arms Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151577 10-in. 6/1/1931 High and low (I've been looking for you) Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
(Results 651-675 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed May 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064

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