Image Source: Wikipedia

Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, as well as her leading roles in musical theater, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." She performed on Broadway in Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, and Hello, Dolly!

She is also known for her film roles in Anything Goes (1936), Call Me Madam (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). Among many accolades, she received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Call Me Madam, a Grammy Award for Gypsy, and a Drama Desk Award for Hello, Dolly!

Merman introduced many Broadway standards, including "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy, "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Some People", and "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy, and the Cole Porter songs "It's De-Lovely" (from Red, Hot and Blue), "Friendship" (from Du Barry Was a Lady), and "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", and "Anything Goes" (from Anything Goes). The Irving Berlin song "There's No Business Like Show Business", written for Annie Get Your Gun, became Merman's signature song.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 16, 1908 (Astoria), Died February 15, 1984 (Manhattan)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1955

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 90 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 80604 2/23/1951 Oldies Ray Bolger ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81111 6/2/1951 Love is the reason Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81112 6/2/1951 The world is your balloon Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81113 6/2/1951 Make the man love me Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81782 10/26/1951 You say the nicest things Jimmy Durante ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81783 10/26/1951 A husband, a wife Jimmy Durante ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 81784 10/26/1951 If you catch a little cold Jimmy Durante ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 84038 3/3/1953 The hostess with the mostes' on the ball Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 84039 3/3/1953 Can't you use any money today ; International rag Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 84042 3/3/1953 You're just in love Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 84046 3/3/1953 Best thing for you Ethel Merman ; George Sanders vocalist  
Decca 84047 3/3/1953 Call me Madam-Finale Ethel Merman ; George Sanders vocalist  
Decca 85154 6/15/1953 Ford 50th anniversary television show Mary Martin ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 87097 11/29/1954 (There's no business like) Show business Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca 87100 11/29/1954 If you believe Ethel Merman ; Johnnie Ray vocalist  
Decca 87105 11/29/1954 Heat wave Mitzi Gaynor ; Dolores Gray ; Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8416 5/18/1955 Medley: Way down yonder in New Orleans ; Somebody stole my gal ; Smiles ; Row, row, row ; I want a girl (just like the girl that married dear old Dad) Sweet Georgia Brown Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8417 5/18/1955 Medley: You tell me your dreams, I'll tell you mine ; School days ; Memories Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8425 5/20/1955 Overture ; Ta-ra-ra-boom-der-e ; The band played on ; The Bowery ; On a Saturday night ; While strolling thru ; the park one day ; Hello my baby ; I've got rings in my fingers ; In my merry Oldsmobile ; In the good old Summertime ; Sweet Rosie O'Grady ; Little Annie Rooney ; Waltz me around again Wil Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8426 5/20/1955 Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, oh ; Dear little boy of mine ; 45 minutes from Broadway ; Mary's a grand old name ; Give my regards to Broadway Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8435 5/24/1955 Take back your gold Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8436 5/24/1955 That old gang of mine ; Sweet Adeline Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8437 5/24/1955 A bird in a gilded cage ; Frankie and Johnny Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8446 5/25/1955 Sidewalks of New York (East side, West side) ; On a bicycle built for two (Daisy, Daisy) ; She'll be comin' 'round the mountain ; Put on your old grey bonnet Ethel Merman vocalist  
Decca L 8447 5/25/1955 Put on your old grey bonnet ; M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i ; Listen to the mocking bird ; Moonlight bay ; By the light of the silvery moon ; Shine on, harvest moon Ethel Merman vocalist  
(Results 51-75 of 90 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Merman, Ethel," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103314.

Merman, Ethel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103314.

"Merman, Ethel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103314

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.