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 101-125 of 131 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 101-125 of 131 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baskette, Billy," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

Baskette, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

"Baskette, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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