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Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Many of his songs are standard repertoire for vocalists and jazz musicians. He co-wrote 850 songs.

He is best known for his collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers, as the duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, whose musicals include Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Described by Stephen Sondheim as an "experimental playwright", Hammerstein helped bring the American musical to new maturity by popularizing musicals that focused on stories and character rather than the lighthearted entertainment that the musical had been known for beforehand.

He also collaborated with Jerome Kern (with whom he wrote Show Boat), Vincent Youmans, Rudolf Friml, Richard A. Whiting, and Sigmund Romberg.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 12, 1895 (New York City), Died August 23, 1960 (Doylestown)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 428 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-24722 12-in. 12/9/1920 Gems from Jimmie Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25781 10-in. 11/28/1921 Baby dreams Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30988 10-in. 10/10/1924 Rose-Marie Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-30988 10-in. 9/20/1926 Rose-Marie Lambert Murphy Tenor vocal solo, with violin duet and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-31102 10-in. 10/14/1924 Indian love call Olive Kline Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-31102 10-in. 9/24/1926 Indian love call Olive Kline Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-31526 10-in. 12/17/1924 Rose-Marie John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-31820 10-in. 1/29/1925 Indian love call Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-32195 12-in. 4/1/1925 Gems from Rose-Marie Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-33758 10-in. 11/6/1925 D'ye love me? Billy Murray ; Aileen Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-33932 10-in. 11/20/1925 D'ye love me? Billy Murray ; Gladys Rice Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-33979 12-in. 12/9/1925 Gems from Sunny Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-34524 10-in. 2/4/1926 Song of the flame Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-34525 10-in. 2/4/1926 Cossack love song Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-35792 10-in. 7/21/1926 Two little bluebirds Franklyn Baur ; Gladys Rice Female-male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-36903 10-in. 11/4/1926 We'll have a kingdom Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-36922 10-in. 11/11/1926 One golden hour Gladys Rice ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-36981 10-in. 11/29/1926 The riff song Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal quartet lyricist  
Victor CVE-37317 12-in. 12/16/1926 Gems from The desert song Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-38110 10-in. 2/24/1927 The desert song Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-38898 10-in. 6/10/1927 Indian love call Virginia Rea Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-38978 12-in. 6/30/1927 Indian love call Florence Starr Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-40589 10-in. 11/17/1927 Dawn The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-41112 10-in. 11/26/1927 We two The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-41170 10-in. 12/13/1927 Why do I love you Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 428 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hammerstein, Oscar, II," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101947.

Hammerstein, Oscar, II. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101947.

"Hammerstein, Oscar, II." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101947

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