Morton Downey
Sean Morton Downey (November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985), also known as Morton Downey Sr., was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Downey was nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale". |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 14, 1901 (Wallingford), Died October 25, 1985 (Palm Beach)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1951
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, songwriter
Notes: Also recorded under the name Morton James.
= 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-29979 | 10-in. | 5/9/1924 | Nightingale | Nelson Maples ; S.S. Leviathan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and bird imitations | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-48162 | 10-in. | 11/14/1928 | How about me? | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-48163 | 10-in. | 11/14/1928 | I m sorry, Sally | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49276 | 10-in. | 12/19/1928 | My inspiration is you | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49277 | 10-in. | 12/19/1928 | Little Irish rose | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49278 | 10-in. | 12/19/1928 | Rosemary | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49670 | 10-in. | 1/21/1929 | I'll always be in love with you | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-49795 | 10-in. | 3/26/1929 | There's a place in the sun for you | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-50752 | 10-in. | 3/13/1929 | There'll be you and I | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-50753 | 10-in. | 3/13/1929 | The world is yours and mine | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-50928 | 10-in. | 3/11/1929 | I'll always be Mother's boy | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-51623 | 10-in. | 4/13/1929 | There's the one for me | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-51624 | 10-in. | 4/13/1929 | This is heaven | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-51688 | 10-in. | 5/7/1929 | You're just another memory | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-51689 | 10-in. | 5/7/1929 | That's you, baby | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BRC-53044 | 10-in. | 4/21/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Gene Austin | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | songwriter | |
| Victor | BRC-53052 | 10-in. | 4/23/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Bert Lown Hotel Biltmore Orchestra ; Elmer Feldkamp | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-53582 | 10-in. | 6/25/1929 | Love is a dreamer | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-53583 | 10-in. | 6/25/1929 | When they sing "The wearin' of the green" | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-57966 | 10-in. | 12/30/1929 | The shepherd's serenade | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-57967 | 10-in. | 12/30/1929 | That wonderful something (Is love) | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BVE-67498 | 10-in. | 3/10/1931 | Wabash moon | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, tenor vocal, songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-67507 | 10-in. | 2/18/1931 | Wabash moon | Wayne King Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-68802 | 10-in. | 3/12/1931 | If you should ever need me (You'll always find me here) | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BRC-68885 | 10-in. | 4/9/1931 | Mother's apron strings | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BRC-68886 | 10-in. | 4/9/1931 | The little old church in the valley | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BRC-70103 | 10-in. | 6/30/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Georges Metaxa | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Victor | BVE-70266 | 10-in. | 10/5/1931 | Carolina moon | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with violin and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | BRC-Test-468 | 10-in. | 6/15/1931 | Wabash moon | Frances Langford | Female vocal solo, with piano | songwriter | |
| Victor | [Trial 1923-08-20-01] | 10-in. | 8/20/1923 | When Irish eyes are smiling | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | [Trial 1923-08-20-02] | 10-in. | 8/20/1923 | Out where the blue begins | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Victor | [Trial 1927-04-20-06] | 10-in. | 4/20/1927 | Mary dear, I miss you | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Columbia | W151282 | 10-in. | 2/6/1931 | Wabash moon | The Cavaliers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W151373 | 10-in. | 2/27/1931 | Wabash moon | Charlie Lawman | Male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W151420 | 10-in. | 3/13/1931 | Wabash moon | Kate Smith | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W151548 | 10-in. | 5/7/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Ben Selvin and his Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W151553 | 10-in. | 5/15/1931 | Now you're in my arms | James Melton | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W351011 | 10-in. | 4/22/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Chester Leighton and his Sophomores [Selvin's Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Columbia | W365012 | 10-in. | 5/20/1931 | Now you're in my arms | Jack Miller | Male vocal solo, with piano | songwriter | |
| OKeh | W404833 | 10-in. | 1/27/1931 | Wabash moon | Ed Kirkeby Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | 15608-15609 | 10-in. | 4/21/1925 | The melody that made you mine | Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | 15610-15611 | 10-in. | 4/21/1925 | When the one you love loves you | Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E15612 | 10-in. | 4/21/1925 | When the one you love loves you | Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E15613 | 10-in. | 4/21/1925 | The melody that made you mine | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E36084 | 10-in. | 2/17/1931 | Wabash moon | Regent Club Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36196 | 10-in. | 2/27/1931 | Wabash moon | Ross Colby | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36425 | 10-in. | 3/29/1931 | Wabash moon | Nick Lucas | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36451 | 10-in. | 4/9/1931 | Now you’re in my arms | Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas ; Nick Lucas | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36628 | 10-in. | 4/16/1931 | Now you’re in my arms | Owen Fallon and his Californians [Fred Rich Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36629 | 10-in. | 4/16/1931 | En mis brazos | O. Fallon y sus Californianos [Fred Rich Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36631 | 10-in. | 4/16/1931 | Fiesta | Sleepy Hall and his Collegians [Fred Rich Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E36707 | 10-in. | 5/19/1931 | Now you’re in my arms | Pat Harrington | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E16183-E16185 | 10-in. | 8/20/1925 | Memories | Morton Downey ; Harry Parrella | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16186-E16188 | 10-in. | 8/20/1925 | Lonesome, that's all | Morton Downey ; Harry Perrella | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16238-E16241 | 10-in. | 8/26/1925 | I'm falling in love with some one | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16242-E16245 | 10-in. | 8/26/1925 | I'll take you home again, Kathleen | Frank E. Banta ; Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16589-E16591 | 10-in. | 10/10/1925 | The lonesomest girl in town | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16592-E16594 | 10-in. | 10/10/1925 | Cross my heart, Mother (I love you) | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16617-E16619 | 10-in. | 10/14/1925 | Let the rest of the world go by | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E16636-E16638 | 10-in. | 10/15/1925 | The world is waiting for the sunrise | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E17112-E17113 | 10-in. | 12/17/1925 | The world is waiting for the sunrise | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E17364-E17366 | 10-in. | 1/5/1926 | Lo-nah | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E17393½-E17397 | 10-in. | 1/8/1926 | Just a cottage small (By a waterfall) | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with string quartet and piano | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E20867-E20868 | 10-in. | 12/3/1926 | Since I found you | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E20869-E20871 | 10-in. | 12/3/1926 | The little white house (At the end of Honeymoon Lane) | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Brunswick | E36088-E36089 | 10-in. | 2/17/1931 | Wabash moon (Waltz) | Joe Green Novelty Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | TCL1418 | 10-in. | 3/2/1931 | Say a little prayer for me | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Edison | 9123 | 10-in. | 8/25/1923 | Where rainbows end | Morton Downey | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Gramophone | Bb19981 | 10-in. | 9/8/1930 | Say a little prayer for me | Morton Downey | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, tenor vocal | |
| Decca | 63391 | 10-in. | 3/11/1938 | Home sweet home | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 63392 | 10-in. | 3/11/1938 | Love's old sweet song | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 63397 | 10-in. | 3/11/1938 | When day is done | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 63398 | 10-in. | 3/11/1938 | A perfect day | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 72089 | 10-in. | 5/8/1944 | Precious Lord hold my hand | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 72090 | 10-in. | 5/8/1944 | Christopher Robin is saying his prayers | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 72091 | 10-in. | 5/8/1944 | Spring will be a little late this year | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | ||
| Decca | 80531 | 2/14/1951 | Goodnight sweet Jesus | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80532 | 2/14/1951 | Take my hand, precious Lord | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80533 | 2/14/1951 | My desire | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80534 | 2/14/1951 | When I've done my best | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80625 | 2/28/1951 | I've been a stranger in my family | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80626 | 2/28/1951 | Just a closer walk with Thee | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80627 | 2/28/1951 | O Lord, I am not worthy | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal | |||
| Decca | 80628 | 2/28/1951 | Hear me Lord | Morton Downey | vocalist, tenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Downey, Morton," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108320.
Downey, Morton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108320.
"Downey, Morton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Downey, Morton, 1901-1985 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no00004560
Wikidata: Morton Downey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3865974
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/24136231
MusicBrainz: Morton Downey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a4f74db5-8c67-4d16-86cc-d1c43ed8230b
ISNI: 0000 0000 4314 8698 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000043148698
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