Seymour Simons

Seymour Simons (January 14, 1896 – February 12, 1949) was an American pianist, composer, orchestra leader, and radio producer. Simons was originally trained in engineering and went to work as a research engineer at a Detroit motor plant, but the First World War intervened and he spent it in aeronautical research

Simons returned to Detroit after service in World War I and built a reputation as a pianist and songwriter, providing material for stage stars Nora Bayes and Elsie Janis. In 1919, he wrote "Just Like a Gypsy" with Bayes, who, in addition to being a popular entertainer, was already a songwriter best known for "Shine on Harvest Moon", written with her performer/husband Jack Norworth in 1910. "Just Like a Gypsy" was recorded in 1941 by Maxine Sullivan and in 1946 by Peggy Lee.

A collaboration in 1926 with Richard A. Whiting produced “Hello, Baby,” recorded by Ruth Etting, and the popular “Breezin’ Along With the Breeze”, in conjunction with Haven Gillespie, which was first recorded by Josephine Baker, used in the film Pete Kelly's Blues (1955), and sung by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in their 1954 film, The Long, Long Trailer. The trio also collaborated on "(I'm In Love With You) Honey" which was performed in the 1945 film Her Highness and the Bellboy. With Gus Kahn, Simons wrote “Just Can’t Be Bothered with Me” (1929) and “Sweetheart of My Student Days” (1930).

Simons worked in radio production and booking from 1928 to 1932 and led an orchestra on the radio in the early ‘30s. In 1931, he collaborated with Gerald Marks on his biggest hit, “All of Me” which has maintained its popularity over the years, winning the “Towering Song” award given by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 14, 1896, Died February 12, 1949

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1947

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

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 152 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-24321 10-in. 7/14/1920 Just like a Gypsy Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor C-24391 12-in. 8/9/1920 Avalon Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor B-25524 10-in. 8/18/1921 Remember the rose Elliott Shaw Male vocal solo, with violin, xylophone, and orchestra composer  
Victor B-26230 10-in. 3/2/1922 You can have ev'ry light on Broadway (Give me that one little light at home) International Novelty Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-26385 10-in. 5/26/1922 Night Clyde Doerr Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-27032 10-in. 10/17/1922 Remember the rose John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-28757 10-in. 10/22/1923 Salt your sugar Joe Raymond Orchestra ; Joe Raymond Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-29543 10-in. 2/25/1924 Ain't you ashamed! Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-29826 10-in. 4/2/1924 Lonely little wallflow'r Benson Orchestra of Chicago ; Don Bestor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-31208 10-in. 11/24/1924 Remember Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, vocalist  
Victor BVE-35727 10-in. 6/29/1926 Hello, baby Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-35940 10-in. 7/26/1926 Breezin' along (With the breeze) Seattle Harmony Kings Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-36046 10-in. 8/16/1926 Breezin' along (With the breeze) The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-38703 10-in. 4/28/1927 Rosy cheeks Jack Smith Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-40186 10-in. 10/18/1927 Who's that knockin' at my door Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with guitar composer  
Victor CVE-40446 12-in. 11/7/1927 Just like a Gypsy Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Victor BVE-43145 10-in. 3/15/1928 Lovable Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-49930 10-in. 2/7/1929 Honey Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-53516 10-in. 5/27/1929 Honey Dagmar Nordstrom Piano solo composer  
Victor BVE-53525 10-in. 5/29/1929 Honey Mildred Hunt Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor BVE-58558 10-in. 2/6/1930 The one I love just can't be bothered with me Burt Lorin ; Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-59624 10-in. 3/11/1930 The one I love just can't be bothered with me Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-62361 10-in. 7/21/1930 A big bouquet for you Johnny Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band (takes 4-6); Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 1-3) composer  
Victor BVE-63109 10-in. 7/3/1930 Chinnin' and chattin' with May George Bias ; Mileage Makers ; Bubber Miley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-63327 10-in. 8/6/1930 Wasn't it nice? Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 1-25 of 152 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Simons, Seymour," accessed June 8, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107790.

Simons, Seymour. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107790.

"Simons, Seymour." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 8 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107790

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