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 (Results 76-100 of 131 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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

(Results 76-100 of 131 records)

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.