Pete Wendling

Pete Wendling (June 6, 1888 – April 7, 1974) was an American composer and pianist, born in New York City to German immigrants.

He started his working life as a carpenter, but gained fame during the mid-1910s as a popular music composer, with his name appearing on the "Soup and Fish Rag" in 1913. He worked on such hits as "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" (recorded by Al Jolson), "Take Me To The Land Of Jazz", "Take Your Girlie To The Movies", "Felix The Cat", and "Oh What A Pal Is Mary".

Wendling was also one of the top pianists of his era, and set a long-standing record when he appeared at the London Hippodrome for eight consecutive weeks. He joined the Rhythmodik Music Roll Company in 1914, and started to record his performances on paper rolls for player pianos. In 1916 he recorded for American Piano Company (Ampico). In 1918, he joined the largest piano roll company, QRS, and rapidly became one of their most popular artists, his distinctive yet always fresh performances constantly topping their best-selling lists. They were still in production as of 2003.

He recorded two sides for Okeh Records in 1923, and in 1926, cut another four for Cameo. In 1927, QRS, who were tightening their belt due to declining sales, released Wendling, and he concentrated on his composing career until his retirement in the 1950s. In 1955, he co-wrote "I Wonder", which became a UK chart hit for both Jane Froman and Dickie Valentine. Wendling's last notable work was "Rich in Love" in 1956.

Married to Anna, he had no children. A resident of Manhattan, he died in New York City in April 1974, aged 85 after several strokes.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6, 1888, Died April 7, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, arranger, piano, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-17330 10-in. 3/17/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-17430 12-in. 4/4/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-17812 10-in. 6/7/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Avon Comedy Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-18226 10-in. 7/26/1916 Yaaka hula dickey dula Quinteto Borinquen Instrumental quintet composer  
Victor B-18527 10-in. 10/4/1916 The call of a nation Victor Military Band Band songwriter  
Victor B-19246 10-in. 3/7/1917 Yaaka hula hickey dula Gus Goldstein Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-21640 10-in. 3/20/1918 I miss that Mississippi miss that misses me Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-22171 10-in. 7/19/1918 I miss that Mississippi miss that misses me Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with violin duet and orchestra composer  
Victor B-22227 10-in. 9/9/1918 Oh! How I wish I could sleep until my daddy comes home Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with oboe, cello, and orchestra composer  
Victor B-22879 10-in. 5/28/1919 The music of wedding chimes Charles Hart ; Shannon Four Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-22899 10-in. 6/11/1919 Take me to the land of jazz Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-23020 10-in. 6/19/1919 Take your girlie to the movies (If you can't make love at home) Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-23087 10-in. 7/23/1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with violin and oboe duet and orchestra composer  
Victor B-23299 10-in. 10/15/1919 Oh what a pal was Mary Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-23308 10-in. 10/22/1919 All the Quakers are shoulder shakers All Star Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor B-23415 10-in. 10/16/1919 And he'd say Oo-la-la! Wee-wee Pietro Accordion solo composer  
Victor B-23481 10-in. 11/18/1919 All the Quakers are shoulder shakers (Down in Quakertown) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-24108 10-in. 5/12/1920 What-cha gonna do when there ain't no jazz? Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-24603 10-in. 9/29/1920 The race track blues Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-25201 10-in. 4/12/1921 Monastery bells Merle Alcock Female vocal solo, with bells, celeste, chimes, and orchestra composer  
Victor B-26500 10-in. 6/1/1922 Whenever you're lonesome (Just telephone me) Billy Murray ; Aileen Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-26564 10-in. 6/21/1922 A sleepy little village (Where the Dixie cotton grows) Billy Murray ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27637 10-in. 3/2/1923 Maxie Jones (King of the saxophone) Ross Gorman ; Virginians Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-35654 10-in. 6/2/1926 Blue bonnet, you make me feel blue Charlie Farrell ; Jim Miller Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandola (self-accompaniment) composer  
Victor BVE-38010 10-in. 4/25/1927 Red lips kiss my blues away Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 283 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wendling, Pete," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

Wendling, Pete. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

"Wendling, Pete." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775

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