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 176-200 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W351140 10-in. 12/7/1931 By the sycamore tree Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh 410 10-in. ca. Oct. 1918 Oh how I wish I could sleep (Until my daddy comes home) Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh 807 10-in. ca. May 1919 Take me to the land of jazz Bert Harvey Male vocal solo, with xylophone orchestra composer  
OKeh 821 10-in. ca. May 1919 Take your girlies to the movies (If you can't make love at home) Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with xylophone orchestra composer  
OKeh 825 10-in. ca. June 1919 The music of wedding chimes Kitty Watson Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh 847 10-in. ca. July 1919 The music of wedding chimes Conway's Band Band composer  
OKeh S-7038 10-in. ca. Oct. 1919 All the Quakers are shoulder shakers down in Quaker Town Bert Harvey Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-7041 10-in. Oct. 1919 Oh, what a pal was Mary Joseph M. Knecht ; Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-7053 10-in. ca. Oct. 1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Samuel Ash Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-7568 10-in. Sept. 1920 What cha gonna do when there ain't no jazz Rega Dance Orchestra ; Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh o-8234 10-in. ca. Nov. 1921 Monastery bells Harmonists ; Julius Lenzberg Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh 9784 10-in. 6/24/1926 Blue bonnet Lloyd Turner ; Villa Venice Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70270 10-in. Oct. 1921 Monastery bells Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-70687 10-in. June 1922 Whenever you're lonesome Markel's Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-70914 10-in. Oct. 1922 He loves it Elsie Clark Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-71326 10-in. March 1923 Maxie Jones Tampa Blue Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-71545 10-in. May 1923 Papa blues Pete Wendling Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-71637 10-in. 6/18/1923 Page Paderewski Pete Wendling Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh W80215 10-in. 11/16/1926 Scatter your smiles Clarence Williams’ Blue Seven ; Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh W80273 10-in. 12/30/1926 (I meet her in the moonlight but) She keeps me in the dark The Goofus Five Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W80275 10-in. 1/3/1927 Usen't you used to be my sweetie? Ted Wallace and his Orchestra [Ed Kirkeby Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W80414 10-in. 2/11/1927 There's something nice about everyone (But there's everything nice about you) Frank Dailey ; Meadowbrook Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W80668 10-in. 3/23/1927 There's something nice about everyone (But there's everything nice about you) Gerald Macy ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
OKeh W80699 10-in. 4/6/1927 Red lips, kiss my blues away! Markel's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W80828 10-in. 5/3/1927 Red lips—kiss my blues away Alma Rotter Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
(Results 176-200 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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