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 51-75 of 146 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 47495 10-in. 4/17/1917 The ghost of the ukulele Elizabeth Brice ; Charles King Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77795 10-in. 4/29/1918 I miss my daddy's goodnight kiss Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78105 10-in. 10/9/1918 When it's peach-jam makin' time Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78570 10-in. 7/15/1919 I know what it means to be lonesome The Three Kaufields Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 78585 10-in. 7/21/1919 Golden gate Charles Harrison ; Lewis James Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78628 10-in. 9/9/1919 I am climbing mountains Charles Harrison ; Lewis James Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78732 10-in. 10/11/1919 I'm like a ship without a sail Charles Harrison ; Lewis James Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78759 10-in. 10/24/1919 I know what it means to be lonesome George Meader Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78814 10-in. 11/18/1919 All I have are sunny weather friends Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 79081 10-in. 3/26/1920 Ages and ages George Meader Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 79167 10-in. 5/7/1920 Typhoon Harry Akst ; Frank E. Banta Piano duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 79492 10-in. 10/29/1920 Feather your nest Strickland's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 79525 10-in. 11/18/1920 Feather your nest Happy Six Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80025 10-in. 10/13/1921 Jabberwocky Happy Six Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80121 10-in. 12/23/1921 You're out o' luck Al Herman Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 81270 10-in. 10/8/1923 You darling you California Ramblers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81825 10-in. 6/16/1924 Nightingale Columbia Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 49406 12-in. 12/31/1918 Down among the sheltering palms Dorothy Brunton Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 49984 12-in. 9/15/1921 When the sun goes down blues Happy Six Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W140817 10-in. 8/6/1925 Silver head Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 140854 10-in. 8/14/1925 Silver head Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 141881 10-in. 3/29/1926 Let's grow old together Will Oakland Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 142194 10-in. 5/12/1926 Wait till my ship comes in Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia W147747 10-in. 1/2/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Dorothea Ponce ; Ethel Ponce Female vocal duet, with piano and harmonium songwriter  
Columbia [W]147787 10-in. 1/17/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Dot Dare Female vocal solo, with instrumental quintet songwriter  
(Results 51-75 of 146 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brockman, James," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

Brockman, James. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

"Brockman, James." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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