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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 51-75 of 110 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W149115 10-in. 10/8/1929 With you—with me Merle Johnston and his Ceco Couriers Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W149773 10-in. 1/16/1930 Until love comes along Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W151179 10-in. 12/26/1930 Lady, play your mandolin Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W81949 10-in. 12/20/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Paul Hagan ; Les Reis Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
OKeh W400006 10-in. 1/10/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Osborne Miller Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
OKeh W400035 10-in. 1/20/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Ernie Golden ; Hotel McAlpin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio composer  
OKeh W401470 10-in. 12/20/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Clarence Williams Orchestra ; Eva Taylor Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402888 10-in. 8/29/1929 Lovable and sweet Annette Hanshaw Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W402895 10-in. 9/3/1929 Lovable and sweet Smith Ballew ; Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W404594 10-in. 12/30/1930 Lady, play your mandolin Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick 11934-11937 10-in. 11/21/1923 Out of sight out of mind Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27352 10-in. 4/16/1928 Just a little way away from home Joe Rines Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E28411 10-in. 9/21/1928 If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) Herbert Gordon’s Adelphia Hotel Whispering Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E32043 10-in. Feb. 1930 Until love comes along Tom Clines and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E35950 10-in. 1/22/1931 Lady, play your mandolin Will Osborne and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick XE25382-XE25383 12-in. 12/2/1927 Rhapsody in blue Frank Black Orchestra Orchestra, with piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick XE25384-XE25385 12-in. 12/2/1927 Rhapsody in blue Frank Black Orchestra Orchestra, with piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick E25513-E25514 10-in. 12/10/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Nick Lucas Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick E25643-E25645 10-in. 12/15/1927 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal take E25645 composer  
Brunswick E30613-E30614 10-in. August 1929 Lovable and sweet Al Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E30615-E30616 10-in. August 1929 My dream memory Al Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E35770-E35771 10-in. 12/20/1930 Lady play your mandolin (Senora toqe su mandolina) Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C1910 10-in. 4/28/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Wynken, Blynken, and Nod Vocal trio composer  
Brunswick C1597-C1598 10-in. 1/19/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Frank Sylvano ; Elmo Tanner Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison 18152 10-in. 1/5/1928 Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon Vaughn De Leath Female vocal solo, with instrumental quartet composer  
(Results 51-75 of 110 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Levant, Oscar," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.

Levant, Oscar. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.

"Levant, Oscar." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 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

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