Hal Derwin

Hal Derwin or Hal Derwyn (July 14, 1914 – February 9, 1998) was an American dance bandleader, principally active in the 1940s.

Early in his career, Derwin was a member of a vocal trio with Lee Gillette (later a talent scout for Capitol Records). In the 1930s he worked with musicians such as Boyd Raeburn, Louis Panico, Shep Fields, and Les Brown, and formed his own band in Chicago in 1940 that included Freddy Large (of Jan Garber's band) as a sideman. He toured the Midwest for much of the 1940s, and had several 10-inch singles released on Capitol Records after World War II, including the hit song "The Old Lamp-Lighter", which reached number six on the Billboard chart. In the early 1950s his band took up a residency at the Biltmore Bowl in Los Angeles for six years and was broadcast on NBC Radio. Derwin continued to record and perform on the side, including with Artie Shaw and in a duet with Martha Tilton. Later in his career he worked in artist and repertory for Capitol.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 14, 1914, Died February 9, 1998 (San Diego)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 51-53 of 53 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-049839 10-in. 6/3/1940 Tennessee fish fry Dorothy Allen ; Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor PBS-049840 10-in. 6/3/1940 Gavotte in G Shep Fields ; Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor E0VB-3649 10-in. 5/19/1950 Little Liza Lou Spade Cooley ; Hal Derwin ; Spade Cooley Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble vocalist  
(Results 51-53 of 53 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Derwin, Hal," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104521.

Derwin, Hal. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104521.

"Derwin, Hal." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104521

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