Ken Darby

Kenneth Lorin Darby (May 13, 1909 – January 24, 1992) was an American composer, vocal arranger, lyricist, and conductor. His film scores were recognized by the awarding of three Academy Awards and one Grammy Award. He provided vocals for the Munchkinland mayor in The Wizard of Oz (1939), who was portrayed in the film by Charlie Becker. Darby is also notable as the author of The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe (1983), a biography of the home of Rex Stout's fictional detective.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 13, 1909 (Nebraska), Died January 24, 1992 (Sherman Oaks)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: bass vocal, arranger, piano, conductor, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 40 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-94198 10-in. 9/7/1935 A picture of me without you Ken Darby ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet vocalist, bass vocal  
Victor CS-95096 12-in. 9/28/1935 Jubilee medley Ken Darby ; Bud Linn ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos vocalist, bass vocal  
Victor BS-99058 10-in. 2/6/1936 Awake in a dream Ken Darby ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet vocalist, bass vocal  
Victor BS-017741 10-in. 12/17/1937 You're out of this world Jerry Blaine ; Stream Line Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor D7VB-3156 10-in. 12/12/1947 Johnny Appleseed overture Ken Darby ; Dennis Day Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and instrumental ensemble conductor  
Decca DLA 2460 10-in. 6/25/1941 Li'l Liza Jane King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2461 10-in. 6/25/1941 The chool song King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2462 10-in. 6/25/1941 Simple Simon King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2463 10-in. 6/25/1941 Old King Cole King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2476 10-in. 6/28/1941 The reluctant dragon King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2477 10-in. 6/28/1941 Old Dan Tucker King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2478 10-in. 6/28/1941 Little brown jug King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2479 10-in. 6/28/1941 Three blind mice King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2480 10-in. 6/28/1941 Polly put the kettle on King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2481 10-in. 6/28/1941 Old MacDonald had a farm King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2487 10-in. 6/30/1941 Travelin' back to Alabam' King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2488 10-in. 6/30/1941 In the morning by the brightlight King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2489 10-in. 6/30/1941 Gabriel's band King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2490 10-in. 6/30/1941 In the evening by the moonlight King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger  
Decca DLA 2519 10-in. 7/9/1941 Close 'em windows King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
Decca DLA 2520 10-in. 7/9/1941 Marching to Pretoria King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
Decca DLA 2521 10-in. 7/9/1941 Listen to the silver trumpets King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
Decca DLA 2522 10-in. 7/9/1941 Way up yonder King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
Decca DLA 2523 10-in. 7/9/1941 Oh dem golden slippers King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
Decca DLA 2524 10-in. 7/9/1941 Tapioca King’s Men instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 40 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Darby, Ken," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103931.

Darby, Ken. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103931.

"Darby, Ken." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103931

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