James Brockman

James Brockman (December 8, 1886 – May 22, 1967) was an American songwriter. Born in Russia, he emigrated to New York by himself at the age of 9 or 10. His given name was Jacob Brachman but he changed the spelling of the last name because it was mis-pronounced and the rest of the family followed with the change.

Brockman began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and musicals in the early 1900s. He was a partner, along with James Kendis, of the Kendis-Brockman Music Company.

He wrote the lyrics to Down among the Sheltering Palms with music by composer and Chicago music publisher Abe Olman. Oldman's marketing of the song led to Leo Feist acquiring it and encouraging Al Jolson to perform on stage.

In 1919, he was a co-writer of the song "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", which years later would become the anthem of the English football club West Ham United. Also in 1919, he co-wrote "I'm Like a Ship Without a Sail". He also co-wrote, with Abe Olman, the song "Down Among The Sheltering Palms", published in 1914 and popularized by the Boswell Sisters in the early 1930s.

He went on to work in Hollywood as a songwriter for films, and wrote the score for Happy Days. He died in Santa Monica, California in May 1967, aged 80, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 8, 1886 (Russian Empire), Died May 22, 1967 (Santa Monica)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1947

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

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 146 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-25469 10-in. 7/22/1921 Sunnyside Sal Shilking Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor B-25503 10-in. 8/8/1921 Once in a blue moon Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-29240 10-in. 1/2/1924 You darling you Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-29979 10-in. 5/9/1924 Nightingale Nelson Maples ; S.S. Leviathan Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and bird imitations composer  
Victor B-30791 10-in. 9/9/1924 The sun's gonna shine again Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-31532 10-in. 12/19/1924 Get yourself a broom and sweep your troubles away Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with ukulele piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-33571 10-in. 10/16/1925 Silver head Jack Shilkret Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-49022 10-in. 12/27/1928 I faw down an' go boom! George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus songwriter  
Victor BVE-49618 10-in. 1/4/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Vaughn De Leath Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BVE-49689 10-in. 1/28/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Eddie Cantor Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor BRC-53077 10-in. 5/1/1931 Faithfully yours Richard Barry ; Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBVE-54518 10-in. 11/22/1929 Doughboy's lullaby The Rounders Male vocal chorus, with piano songwriter  
Victor BVE-57201 10-in. 11/30/1929 Put a little salt on the bluebird's tail Ernie Birchill ; Wayne King Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 4-6) songwriter  
Victor BVE-59659 10-in. 3/31/1930 The snowball men The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Victor PBVE-61074 10-in. 2/16/1931 Faded blue prints The Rounders Male vocal quartet, with piano songwriter  
Victor BVE-69350 10-in. 5/26/1931 Lonesome for you Carter Family Female-male vocal duet, with guitar lyricist  
Victor BS-102666 10-in. 6/17/1936 Feather your nest Harry Blair ; Washboard Wonders ; Kenneth Wolfe Male vocal duet, with washboard band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2560 10-in. 12/2/1947 Down among the sheltering palms Don Cornell ; Kaydets ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio, vocal chorus and jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor [Trial 1919-03-13-04] Not documented 3/13/1919 Forget-me-not James Brockman Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  
Columbia 3719 10-in. ca. Jan.-Oct. 1907 You've got to love me a lot Ada Jones ; Len Spencer Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 4225 10-in. approximately 1909 If I could gain the world by wishing Harvey Hindermyer Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 19872 10-in. 4/29/1912 As long as the shamrock grows green Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 45555 10-in. 4/12/1915 Down among the sheltering palms Columbia Stellar Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46161 10-in. 10/27/1915 Some beautiful morning (You'll find me gone) Marguerite Farrell Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46642 10-in. 3/15/1916 The kid is clever Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
(Results 26-50 of 146 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brockman, James," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

Brockman, James. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

"Brockman, James." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540

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