Billy Baskette

William James Baskette (October 20, 1884 – November 8, 1949) was an American pianist and composer who wrote popular songs of the Tin Pan Alley era. He also wrote one of the most successful World War I war songs, "Good Bye Broadway, Hello France".

Baskette was born in Henderson, Kentucky. His career in music began as a bassist in a circus band. He also was involved in vaudeville performances as a dancer and a pianist. Later, he became a staff composer for various music publishing firms in Chicago and New York City. He died in Culver City, California on November 8, 1949.

Baskette was a part of the Tin Pan Alley movement of music. In 1918, there was a focus on music called "goodbye songs" referring to U.S. soldiers who were deployed to France during World War I. One of Baskette's most notable works was "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France," which was a hit song of the period.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 20, 1884, Died November 8, 1949

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1945

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

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-19369 10-in. 3/14/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with violin, cello, and orchestra composer  
Victor C-19611 12-in. 4/20/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-20317 10-in. 7/3/1917 Goodbye Broadway, hello France American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-20381 12-in. 7/10/1917 Goodbye Broadway, hello France! Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor B-20808 10-in. 9/29/1917 Good-bye Broadway, hello France Pietro Accordion solo composer  
Victor B-21445 10-in. 2/12/1918 Each stitch is a thought of you, dear Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-22086 10-in. 8/12/1918 Camp songs medley, part 1 National Camps Song Leaders Vocal chorus, with cornet and piano composer  
Victor B-23203 10-in. 8/12/1919 Jerry All Star Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor B-23484 10-in. 11/20/1919 I'll dance my way right back to Dixieland Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-27975 10-in. 5/25/1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail (sitting on the inside, lookin' at the outside) Eubie Blake ; Noble Sissle Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-28220 10-in. 6/26/1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail (sittin' on the inside, lookin' at the outside) Tennessee Ten Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28488 10-in. 9/18/1923 Nobody else can love me like my old tomato can Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-31158 10-in. 11/10/1924 Mean Cicero blues Duncan Sisters Female vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
Victor B-31161 10-in. 11/11/1924 Heart broken strain Benson Orchestra of Chicago ; Don Bestor Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-34737 10-in. 3/23/1926 Talkin' to the moon Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-35352 10-in. 4/28/1926 Talking to the moon Jack Smith Male vocal solo, with piano (self-accompaniment) composer  
Victor BVE-35609 10-in. 5/17/1926 Talking to the moon The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-37584 10-in. 1/31/1927 Hoosier sweetheart Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-37585 10-in. 2/1/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Smith Brothers Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-38767 10-in. 5/20/1927 I could waltz on forever (With you sweetheart) The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-49025 10-in. 12/28/1928 Dream train Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-55601 10-in. 7/9/1929 That's when I learned to love you Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BSHQ-73158 10-in. 8/4/1932 Same old moon (Same old sky) James Harkins ; Sid Peltyn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-73351 10-in. 9/1/1932 Mighty river Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-75477 10-in. 4/26/1933 Mighty river Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-75502 10-in. 3/13/1933 Carolina lullaby Dixon Trio ; Dick Robertson Male vocal solo and mixed vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-75503 10-in. 3/13/1933 Carolina lullaby George Donaldson Trio Mixed vocal trio and male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-76652 10-in. 7/14/1933 Old Nebraska moon Don Hall Trio Mixed vocal trio, with violin and piano songwriter  
Victor BS-76653 10-in. 7/14/1933 Old Nebraska moon George Donaldson Trio Mixed vocal trio, with violin and piano songwriter  
Victor BVE-82696 10-in. 3/29/1934 Waitin' for the evenin' mail Riley Puckett Male vocal solo, with guitar composer  
Victor PBVE-196 10-in. 5/2/1926 Sandman lullaby Nina Hinds ; Pearl Leonard Female vocal duet, with piano composer  
Victor D5AB-0428 10-in. 6/20/1945 Dream train Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers Male vocal solo, with string band composer  
Victor [Trial 1923-05-22-01] Not documented 5/22/1923 Lovin' Sam Sybil Gray Female vocal solo, with piano instrumentalist, piano  
Columbia 47414 10-in. 3/13/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Elizabeth Brice ; Charles King Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77185 10-in. 7/5/1917 Goodbye, Broadway, hello France Arthur Fields ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77214 10-in. 7/16/1917 Goodbye Broadway, hello France Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77410 10-in. 10/4/1917 War song hits Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77435 10-in. 10/22/1917 It's a long way to Berlin Marconi Brothers Piano accordion trio composer  
Columbia 77652 10-in. 1/29/1918 Each stitch is a thought of you, dear Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78087 10-in. 9/28/1918 I'm goin' to fight my way right back to Carolina Van and Schenck Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78220 10-in. 12/21/1918 Baby's prayer will soon be answered Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78380 10-in. 4/4/1919 Everybody wants a key to my cellar Bert Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78546 10-in. 7/3/1919 Jerry Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78616 10-in. 7/31/1919 All I want is a girl like you Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia 78799 10-in. 11/6/1919 At the high brown babies ball Columbia Saxophone Sextette Saxophone sextet composer  
Columbia 80414 10-in. 6/23/1922 A dream of Romany Paul Specht Hotel Astor Orchestra [i.e., Paul Specht Orchestra] Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81072 10-in. 6/12/1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail Al Jolson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 81250 10-in. 10/1/1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 140391 10-in. 2/25/1925 Heart-broken strain Art Gillham Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia 49170 12-in. 3/31/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Prince's Band ; G. Hepburn Wilson Band composer  
Columbia 49237 12-in. 6/20/1917 Where do we go from here? Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49298 12-in. 1/5/1918 War song medley one-step Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49548 12-in. 10/29/1918 Oui, oui, Marie (Wee wee Marie) Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra Instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Columbia W141254 10-in. 11/9/1925 Dream pal Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia W141644 10-in. 2/8/1926 Talking to the moon Ford and Glenn Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia W141669 10-in. 2/11/1926 Talking to the moon Art Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2); jazz/dance band (takes 3 and 4) composer  
Columbia 141967 10-in. 4/14/1926 Talkin' to the moon Bar Harbor Society Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W142413 10-in. 7/9/1926 The journey's end Paul Ash ; Milton Watson Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Columbia 143485 10-in. 2/16/1927 Hoosier sweetheart Rube Bloom ; Jane Gray Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia W143496 10-in. 2/18/1927 I could waltz on forever with you, sweetheart The Cavaliers ; Billy Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W143498 10-in. 2/19/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Columbians ; Charles Kaley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W143550 10-in. 2/28/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 143611 10-in. 3/9/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Arthur Fields ; Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W144088 10-in. 5/4/1927 I could waltz on forever with you sweetheart Art Gillham Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia W144700 10-in. 9/23/1927 Night-time in Picardy Garden Dancing Palace Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W147411 10-in. 12/12/1928 Dream train Ford and Glenn Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia 147940 10-in. 2/7/1929 Dream train Carolina Club Orchestra [Hal Kemp Orchestra] ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 148876 10-in. 8/14/1929 That's when I learned to love you Lester Cortes ; Jerome Conrad Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W148911 10-in. 8/21/1929 That's when I learned to love you Will Osborne and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W150208 10-in. 4/14/1930 Waitin' for the evening mail Riley Puckett Male vocal solo, with guitar lyricist, composer  
Columbia [W]150933 10-in. 11/5/1930 Eyes of blue Jack Albin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152254 10-in. 8/11/1932 Same old moon (Same old sky) Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152255 10-in. 8/11/1932 Strange interlude Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Dubbed recording : Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152557 10-in. 11/14/1933 The perfect dream Enric Madriguera Orchestra ; Tony Santos Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152569 10-in. 12/1/1933 I'm weaving rainbows (For those in love) George Olsen and his Music ; Joe Morrison Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 74149 12-in. approximately August 1920 Laughing vamp London Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75920 12-in. approximately May 1917 Hawaiian butterfly Philip Braham ; Comedy Theatre Orchestra ; Teddie Gerard Female vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus composer  
OKeh 339 10-in. ca. Sept. 1918 I'm goin' to fight my way right back to Carolina Kaufman Brothers Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh 626 10-in. ca. Mar. 1919 Everybody wants a key to my cellar Fanny Watson Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh 824 10-in. ca. June 1919 McCarthy, he's a Frenchman now Fanny Watson Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7537 10-in. Aug. 1920 Laughing vamp Rega Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with saxophone solo composer  
OKeh 8788 10-in. 12/5/1924 Heart-broken strain Frankie Quartell's Melody Boys Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-71663 10-in. June 1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail Markel's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-71944 10-in. October 1923 Nobody else can love me like my old tomato can Billy Jones Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-72694 10-in. July 1924 Ray and his little Chevrolet The Happiness Boys Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh 73847 10-in. Dec. 1925 Dream pal Bruce Wallace Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer, lyricist  
OKeh W80427 10-in. 2/15/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Harry Raderman's Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W401676 10-in. 2/28/1929 Dream train Smith Ballew ; The New York Syncopators [Goofus Five] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5164-b] 10-in. approximately Oct. 1917 Goodbye Broadway, hello France Harry McClaskey Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5212-b] 10-in. approximately Mar. 1918 Each stitch is a thought of you, dear Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 10674-10677 10-in. 5/16/1923 Waitin’ for the evenin’ mail Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Brunswick 13450-13453 10-in. 6/30/1924 Ray and his little Chevrolet Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet songwriter  
Brunswick E37437 10-in. 12/1/1931 Waitin’ for the evenin’ mail Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E17867-E17869 10-in. 2/2/1926 Talking to the moon Rendezvous Orchestra ; Charley Straight Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E18377-E18379 10-in. 3/10/1926 Talking to the moon Rendezvous Orchestra ; Charley Straight Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E19689-E19691 10-in. 7/8/1926 Let me spend the journey’s end with you Frank Munn Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E19751-E19753 10-in. 7/13/1926 Let me spend the journey’s end with you Frank Munn Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Brunswick E21453-E21455 10-in. 2/9/1927 The man in the moon told me so Park Lane Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E21991-E21993 10-in. 3/17/1927 Hoosier sweetheart Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E21993) songwriter  
Brunswick E24266-E24269 10-in. 8/22/1927 I could waltz on forever (With you, sweetheart) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E24269) composer  
Brunswick E30414-E30415 10-in. July 1929 That’s when I learned to love you Meyer Davis' Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G). composer  
Brunswick C2603 10-in. 11/28/1928 Dream train Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C3656 10-in. 6/19/1929 Someone’s falling in love Ray Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal songwriter  
Brunswick C3710 10-in. 6/24/1929 Someone’s falling in love Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal songwriter  
Brunswick C3752 10-in. 6/28/1929 Someone’s falling in love Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Brunswick C3901 10-in. 7/19/1929 Someone’s falling in love Ray Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal songwriter  
Brunswick C4690 10-in. 10/22/1929 Heart strings Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Brunswick C4704 10-in. 11/5/1929 Heart strings Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Brunswick C193-C194 10-in. 4/21/1926 Talking to the moon Lee Sims Piano solo composer  
Brunswick C316-C317 10-in. 5/7/1926 Talking to the moon Lee Sims Piano solo composer  
Brunswick C348-C350 10-in. 5/28/1926 Talking to the moon Lee Sims Piano solo composer  
Brunswick C707-C708 10-in. 2/24/1927 Hoosier sweetheart Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick 1440W-1443W 10-in. 10/8/1925 Dream pal Tuxedo Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 5440 10-in. 3/9/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Stewart Jackson Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 5508 10-in. 4/17/1917 Hawaiian butterfly Jaudas' Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 5687 10-in. 7/17/1917 Good-bye Broadway, hello France Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 5741 10-in. 8/23/1917 The garden of Allah Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 5786 10-in. 9/14/1917 Good-bye Broadway, hello France medley Jaudas' Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 5998 10-in. 2/5/1918 My flower garden girl That Girl Quartet Female vocal quartet, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 6053 10-in. Mar. 1918 Each stitch is a thought of you, dear Helen Clark ; Criterion Quartet Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6304 10-in. July-Aug. 1918 I'm going to fight my way right back to Carolina Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 6724 10-in. 4/15/1919 Everybody wants a key to my cellar Al Bernard Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 7515 10-in. 9/7/1920 Underneath the skies of home sweet home Herbert C. Tilley Jr. Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 8844 10-in. 2/13/1923 Hoptown Chinatown hop Kaplan's Melodists Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 9003 10-in. 6/1/1923 Waitin' for the evenin' mail (Sittin' on the inside, lookin' at the outside) Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 10986 10-in. 5/17/1926 Talking to the moon Palais D'Or Orchestra ; B. A. Rolfe Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 10994 10-in. 5/21/1926 Talking to the moon The Frolickers Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 11073 10-in. 6/25/1926 Let me spend the journey's end with you Kaplan's Melodists Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 11728 10-in. 6/10/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Jack Kaufman ; Al Lynn ; Music Masters Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Edison 19110 10-in. 3/18/1929 Dream train Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Edison N-801 10-in. 3/18/1929 Dream train Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baskette, Billy," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

Baskette, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

"Baskette, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782

External Sources

Wikipedia: Billy Baskette

Discogs: Billy Baskette

Allmusic: Billy Baskette

IMSLP: Billy Baskette

IMDb: Billy Baskette

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Baskette, Billy - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93013775

Wikidata: Billy Baskette - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q15997737

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/31203003

MusicBrainz: Billy Baskette - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9979903c-de1a-4aee-9c58-c1c986d2bb91

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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