James Melton
James Melton (January 2, 1904 – April 21, 1961), a popular singer in the 1920s and early 1930s, later began a career as an operatic singer when tenor voices went out of style in popular music around 1932–35. His singing talent was similar to that of his contemporary Richard Crooks and baritones John Charles Thomas and Nelson Eddy who sang popular music but also had operatic careers. Melton usually catered to popular music fans, singing romantic songs and popular ballads in a sweet style. He was born in Moultrie, Georgia, but was raised in Citra, Florida, where his parents grew melons and handled hogs. Melton's father ran a sawmill in the time of history when sawmills were temporary tent buildings built near available lumber trees. In 1920, he graduated from high school in Ocala, Florida, and then attended college at the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University and the University of Georgia. He received vocal instruction from Gaetano de Luca in Nashville from 1923 to 1927 before moving to New York where he studied with Beniamino Gigli's teacher, Enrico Rosati. Melton also worked in dance bands, playing saxophone in a college jazz ensemble and performing with Francis Craig's Orchestra in Atlanta in 1926. |
Birth and Death Data: Born January 2, 1904 (Moultrie), Died April 21, 1961
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1950
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 126-150 of 218 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-071841 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Serenade | Robert Hill ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | BS-071842 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Miranda | Robert Hill ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | BS-071843 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | A Ballynure ballad | Robert Hill ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | BS-071844 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Witness | Robert Hill ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | BS-071845 | 10-in. | 2/11/1942 | Mah Lindy Lou | Robert Hill ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0019 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Panis angelicus | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0020 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Agnus dei | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0021 | 12-in. | 1/11/1950 | Ave Maria | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0022 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | The Lord's prayer | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0023 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | The palms | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | E0RC-0024 | 12-in. | 1/12/1950 | Ave Maria | Frank Black ; James Melton ; RCA Victor Orchestra | Male vocal tenor solo, with vocal ensemble and orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | D4RC-0698 | 12-in. | 12/27/1944 | Strange music | Al Goodman ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | D4RC-0699 | 12-in. | 12/27/1944 | There's beauty everywhere | Al Goodman ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | D4RB-0723 | 10-in. | 12/27/1944 | Our waltz | Al Goodman ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | D4RB-0724 | 10-in. | 12/27/1944 | Holiday for strings | Al Goodman ; James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Victor | [Trial 1927-09-19-03] | 10-in. | 9/19/1927 | Macushla | James Melton | Tenor vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W141007 | 10-in. | 9/29/1925 | Forgiveness | Francis Craig Orchestra ; James Melton | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W144966 | 10-in. | 11/10/1927 | Diane | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W144967 | 10-in. | 11/10/1927 | An old guitar and an old refrain | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145247 | 10-in. | 11/28/1927 | The song is ended (But the melody lingers on) | Columbians ; James Melton | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145407 | 10-in. | 12/14/1927 | Among my souvenirs | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145408 | 10-in. | 12/14/1927 | Dear, on a night like this | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145487 | 10-in. | 1/9/1928 | My Ohio home | Singing Sophomores | Male vocal quartet, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145532 | 10-in. | 1/16/1928 | My heart stood still | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
Columbia | W145583 | 10-in. | 1/25/1928 | Hollywood Rose | Singing Sophomores | Male vocal quartet, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Melton, James," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105137.
Melton, James. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105137.
"Melton, James." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: James Melton
Discogs: James Melton
Grove: James Melton
IMDb: James Melton
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Melton, James, 1904-1961 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85314073
Wikidata: James Melton - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6139622
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/61737029
MusicBrainz: James Melton - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/14d05160-24d5-4e37-b4a8-0ceddbdb18f7
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