Robert B. Smith

Robert Bache Smith ( June 4, 1875 – November 6, 1951), usually published as Robert B. Smith, was an American librettist and lyricist. His older brother, Harry B. Smith, was also a successful lyricist and a writer and composer.

Born in Chicago, Smith began his career apprenticing with the famed vaudeville duo Weber and Fields. He most notably wrote the lyrics to “Come Down, Ma Evenin' Star” from Weber and Fields' Twirly Whirly (1902; famously sung by Lillian Russell). He went on to write libretti for operettas and lyrics for musicals, including such works as Fantana (1905), The Spring Maid (1910), Sweethearts (1913), and Angel Face (1919). His last work was The Girl in the Spotlight (credited as Richard Bruce) in 1920. He died in New York City at the age of 76.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 4, 1875, Died November 6, 1951

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1903 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

= 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 [Pre-matrix A-]1980 7-in. 2/18/1903 Come down, my evening star Mina Hickman Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1980 10-in. 2/18/1903 Come down, my evening star Mina Hickman Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-1929 10-in. 11/14/1904 Come down ma evening star Manhattan Female Quartet Female vocal quartet lyricist  
Victor B-1939 10-in. 11/16/1904 The farewell waltz Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor E-2425 8-in. 3/20/1906 Just my style Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2425 10-in. 3/29/1905 Just my style Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2865 10-in. 11/3/1905 My word Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3191 10-in. 3/20/1906 I was just supposing Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9809 10-in. 1/13/1911 Day dreams, visions of bliss Henry Burr ; Elise Stevenson Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10004 10-in. 2/24/1911 Two little love bees Reinald Werrenrath ; Elizabeth Wheeler Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-10600 12-in. 6/27/1911 Gems from The spring maid Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11069 10-in. 10/10/1911 The melody of love Lucy Isabelle Marsh Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11128 10-in. 10/23/1911 Day dreams, visions of bliss Lyric Quartet ; Christie MacDonald Female vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11129 10-in. 10/23/1911 Two little love bees Christie MacDonald ; Reinald Werrenrath Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-11750 12-in. 3/20/1912 Weber-Fields winners Victor Mixed Chorus Chorus lyricist  
Victor B-11897 10-in. 4/19/1912 A girl like me Lyric Quartet ; Elizabeth Wheeler Soprano vocal solo and mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11995 10-in. 5/9/1912 Roses bloom for lovers Marguerite Dunlap Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12363 10-in. 9/12/1912 Don't turn my picture to the wall Helen Clark ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13177 10-in. 4/22/1913 The cricket on the hearth Christie MacDonald ; Reinald Werrenrath Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13178 10-in. 4/22/1913 Sweethearts Christie MacDonald Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13199 10-in. 4/25/1913 Jeannette and her wooden shoes Marguerite Dunlap Female vocal solo, with male vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13200 10-in. 4/25/1913 Sweethearts Christie MacDonald Female vocal solo and chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13202 10-in. 4/25/1913 Mother Goose Christie MacDonald Female vocal solo, with female vocal trio and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13215 10-in. 4/30/1913 Every lover must meet his fate Reed Miller Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-13354 12-in. 5/27/1913 Gems from Sweethearts Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23495 10-in. 11/24/1919 I might be your once-in-a-while Olive Kline Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24362 10-in. 7/30/1920 I cannot sleep without dreaming of you Lambert Murphy Tenor vocal solo, with violin, cello, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-40609 12-in. 10/13/1927 Selections from Sweethearts Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-47582 10-in. 10/2/1928 Just my style Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-051829 10-in. 7/9/1940 Sweethearts George Griffin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-075417 10-in. 7/9/1942 Sweethearts Dorothy Kirsten ; Felix Knight ; Victor First Nighter Orchestra Female-male vocal duet and mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3268 10-in. between January and November 1905 Just my style Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3411 10-in. ca. Jan.-June 1906 I was just supposing Corinne Morgan ; Frank C. Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19195 10-in. 1/10/1911 Day dreams, visions of bliss Henry Burr ; Margaret Mayew Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19237 10-in. 2/10/1911 Fountain Fay Miriam Clark Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19830 10-in. 3/22/1912 Come down, ma evening star Lillian Russell Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 38841 10-in. 5/14/1913 Every lover must meet his fate Reed Miller Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 38846 10-in. 5/14/1913 Sweethearts Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46226 10-in. 11/26/1915 The lilac domino Eleanor Painter Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30628 12-in. 1/6/1911 The spring maid : Selections Prince's Orchestra Orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30686 12-in. 3/7/1911 Two little love bees Clarke Braine ; Leila Hughes Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30692 12-in. ca. Jan.-May 1911 Fountain Fay Alice Parsons Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 36395 12-in. ca. 1912 Roses bloom for lovers Roma Devonne Hempstead Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 36398 12-in. ca. 1912 Sweethearts, wives and good fellows Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 36413 12-in. ca. 1912 Roses bloom for lovers Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-7084 10-in. approximately Nov. 1919 I might be your once-in-a-while Harvey Hindermyer Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 3167 10-in. approximately Nov. 1919 I might be your once-in-a-while Ida Heydt Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 4100 10-in. approximately Sept. 1920 I cannot sleep without dreaming of you Irene Audrey ; Crescent Trio Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2337 10-in. 6/18/1913 How I love a pretty face Harvey Hindermyer Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2348 10-in. 6/24/1913 Two little love bees Vernon Archibald ; Elizabeth Spencer Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7089 10-in. 1/6/1920 I might be your once-in-a-while Leola Lucey Female vocal solo and mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7390 10-in. 6/7/1920 Day dreams Frieda Hempel Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Robert B.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108690.

Smith, Robert B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108690.

"Smith, Robert B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108690

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