E. Ray Goetz

Edward Ray Goetz (June 12, 1886 – June 12, 1954) was an American composer, lyricist, playwright, theatre director, and theatrical producer. A Tin Pan Alley songwriter, he published more than 500 songs during his career, many of them originally written for the New York stage. His songs were recorded by several artists, including Judy Garland, Al Jolson, and Blossom Seeley. He was active as both a lyricist and composer for Broadway musicals from 1906 through to 1930, collaborating with artists like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Sigmund Romberg, and A. Baldwin Sloane to create material for the theatre.

Beginning with the musical Hitchy-Koo of 1917, he produced several of the musicals and plays he was creatively involved in up until the 1930-1931 Broadway season, when he produced his final stage work, Porter's The New Yorkers, for which he created the story and served as director. He authored the play The Lady of the Orchids which he produced on Broadway in 1928. He produced and served as production supervisor of Herbert Fields and Porter's 1929 musical Fifty Million Frenchmen which was adapted by Warner Brothers into a 1930 film of the same name.

His work as a songwriter was featured in the films For Me and My Gal (1942), Somebody Loves Me (1952), and The Greatest Show On Earth (1952), the latter of which resulted from his work as the lyricist for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus during the final three years of his life. Having never stopped working, he died in 1954.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 12, 1886 (Buffalo), Died June 12, 1954

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1906 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-17240 10-in. 3/1/1916 Long live the ladies Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17330 10-in. 3/17/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17768 10-in. 5/31/1916 When you drop off at Cairo, Illinois Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17812 10-in. 6/7/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Avon Comedy Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17931 10-in. 6/26/1916 By the sad Luana shore Marguerite Farrell Female vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor C-18120 12-in. 7/14/1916 If I knock the 'L' out of Kelly Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor C-18178 12-in. 8/4/1916 If I knock the 'L' out of Kelly Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-18584 10-in. 10/27/1916 When John McCormack sings a song Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-18780 10-in. 12/8/1916 Cheer up! Eat and grow thin Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-19065 10-in. 1/18/1917 For me and my gal Wright and Dietrich Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19246 10-in. 3/7/1917 Yaaka hula hickey dula Gus Goldstein Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19329 10-in. 3/1/1917 For me and my gal Van and Schenck Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-20156 10-in. 6/25/1917 Hitchy-koo Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28366 10-in. 8/9/1923 So this is love Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-28542 10-in. 9/8/1923 So this is love! The Troubadours Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28925 10-in. 11/5/1923 So this is love Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano and violin composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-34357 10-in. 1/26/1926 Do I love you? Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-42528 10-in. 3/1/1928 The land of going-to-be Irving Aaronson ; Commanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-43763 10-in. 5/3/1928 The land of Going-To-Be Irving Aaronson ; Irene Bordoni ; Commanders Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band and male vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-45164 10-in. 5/22/1928 La violetera Lucrezia Bori Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-07771 10-in. 4/12/1937 Yaaka hula hickey dula The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-07772 10-in. 4/12/1937 For me and my gal The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-07780 10-in. 4/12/1937 Take me back to the Garden of Love The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-035769 10-in. 4/19/1939 Boom Maxine Gray ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-036928 10-in. 5/9/1939 Boom Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band ; Three Jacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
(Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Goetz, E. Ray," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

Goetz, E. Ray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

"Goetz, E. Ray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567

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