Resource id #75
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Oscar Levant

Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian, and actor. He was known for his performances in the films Rhapsody in Blue (1945), The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), An American in Paris (1951), and The Band Wagon (1953). He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for recordings featuring his piano performances. He was equally famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and later in movies and television, as for his music. He was portrayed by Sean Hayes in the Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, written by Doug Wright.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 26, 1906 (Pittsburgh), Died August 14, 1972 (Beverly Hills)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 110 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-100884 10-in. 8/4/1936 Until today Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-018118 10-in. 1/7/1938 There's a strange little change in me Elmer Feldkamp ; Freddy Martin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-021974 10-in. 4/13/1938 You had an ev'ning to spare Blue Barron ; Charlie Fischer Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-022430 10-in. 4/12/1938 You had an ev'ning to spare Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-023290 10-in. 5/26/1938 Wacky dust Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-024455 10-in. 8/5/1938 How much do you mean to me? Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-031532 10-in. 1/19/1939 Last night a miracle happened Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-035396 10-in. 4/3/1939 Asleep or awake Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-035560 10-in. 4/5/1939 Asleep or awake Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Judy Ellington Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-035569 10-in. 4/6/1939 A fool and his honey are soon parted Barbara Bush ; Frank Dailey ; Stop and Go Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-036509 10-in. 4/18/1939 Then came the rain Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Trial 1928-02-13-01] 10-in. 2/13/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Jack Major Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia W145292 10-in. 12/9/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Lee Morse and her Southern Serenaders Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W145395 10-in. 12/23/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Ruth Etting ; Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 145424 10-in. 12/17/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 146406 10-in. 6/6/1928 Just a little way away from home Arthur Fields ; Newport Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 146784 10-in. 7/23/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Jimmy Flynn ; Lou Gold Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W147145 10-in. 10/29/1928 If you want the rainbow Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia [W]147153 10-in. 10/19/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Gay Ellis and her Novelty Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W147442 10-in. 11/3/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano (takes 4-6); with alto saxophone, cornet, trombone, banjo, and piano (takes 1-3) composer  
Columbia 148826 10-in. 7/19/1929 Lovable and sweet Jim Andrews ; Lou Gold Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W148845 10-in. 7/24/1929 Lovable and sweet Charleston Chasers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia [W]149029 10-in. 9/20/1929 Lovable and sweet Sammy Fain Male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W149067 10-in. 9/27/1929 Gay love Bing Crosby Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W149110 10-in. 10/8/1929 You're responsible! Merle Johnston and his Ceco Couriers Jazz/dance band composer  
(Results 26-50 of 110 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Levant, Oscar," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.

Levant, Oscar. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.

"Levant, Oscar." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664

External Sources

Wikipedia: Oscar Levant

Discogs: Oscar Levant

Grove: Oscar Levant

IMSLP: Oscar Levant

IMDb: Oscar Levant

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Levant, Oscar, 1906-1972 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no88004134

Wikidata: Oscar Levant - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q945042

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/74038101

MusicBrainz: Oscar Levant - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/51b826eb-0791-43bb-8d02-a6433ba96ca9

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/238900

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

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