Resource id #75
Image Source: Wikipedia

J. Fred Coots

John Frederick Coots (May 2, 1897 – April 8, 1985) was an American songwriter. He composed over 700 popular songs and over a dozen Broadway shows. In 1934, Coots wrote the melody with his then chief collaborator, lyricist Haven Gillespie, for the biggest hit of either man's career, "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town." The song became one of the biggest sellers in American history.

In 1934, when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Coots came up with the outline of the melody in just ten minutes. Coots took the song to his publisher, Leo Feist, who liked it but thought it was "a kids' song" and didn't expect too much from it. Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music and by Christmas sales had passed 400,000.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 2, 1897 (New York City), Died April 8, 1985 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1920 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, tenor vocal, lyricist, piano

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 356 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-51251 10-in. 4/23/1929 Oh sweetheart, where are you tonight? Vaughn De Leath Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-51673 10-in. 5/1/1929 Just another kiss Franklyn Baur Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-51688 10-in. 5/7/1929 You're just another memory Morton Downey Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-51997 10-in. 5/13/1929 Just another kiss Bob Borger ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-53527 10-in. 5/29/1929 Out where the moonbeams are born George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with recitation composer  
Victor BVE-53541 10-in. 6/5/1929 You're just another memory Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-53571 10-in. 6/20/1929 Una cosita llamada amor Marimba Centro-Americana Marimba band composer  
Victor BVE-53622 10-in. 5/15/1929 Was man so die Liebe nennt James Haupt ; Carl Mathieu Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-55515 10-in. 7/27/1929 I'm refer'n just to her 'n me Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-56088 10-in. 9/13/1929 There's too many eyes that wanna make eyes at two pretty eyes I love Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-56130 10-in. 9/12/1929 I'm only making believe Welcome Lewis Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-57537 10-in. 11/12/1929 Why? Arden-Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-57538 10-in. 11/12/1929 It's you I love Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Frank Luther Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-57981 10-in. 1/7/1930 It's you I love Olga Albani Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-58121 10-in. 12/19/1929 May I say, "I love you" Frank Munn ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-58122 10-in. 12/19/1929 Cross your fingers Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-58504 10-in. 1/17/1930 Red hot and blue rhythm High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy ; Johnny Marvin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-58507 10-in. 1/20/1930 (You can't stop me from) Falling in love with you J. Fred Coots Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal, composer  
Victor BVE-58531 10-in. 1/29/1930 Singing a vagabond song J. Fred Coots Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BS-58996 10-in. 9/2/1932 Always in my heart (Forever on my mind) Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62647 10-in. 6/10/1930 Sharing Jane Froman ; Henry Thies Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62700 10-in. 7/25/1930 I still get a thrill (thinking of you) Art Jarrett ; Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-63305 10-in. 7/23/1930 Everything's O.K. with me Royal Flush Orchestra ; Fess Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-63659 10-in. 9/17/1930 I still get a thrill (thinking of you) Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-64362 10-in. 11/19/1930 I miss a little miss (Who misses me in sunny Tennessee) Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 26-50 of 356 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Coots, J. Fred," accessed April 20, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106489.

Coots, J. Fred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 20, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106489.

"Coots, J. Fred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 20 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106489

External Sources

Wikipedia: J. Fred Coots

Discogs: J. Fred Coots

Allmusic: J. Fred Coots

IMDb: J. Fred Coots

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Coots, J. Fred, 1897-1985 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n92014476

Wikidata: J. Fred Coots - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1284588

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5196885

MusicBrainz: J. Fred Coots - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3bcb90e6-c8d9-463d-870a-3cc1e480a060

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/299065

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.