Louis Alter

Louis Alter (June 18, 1902 – November 5, 1980) was an American pianist, songwriter and composer. At 13, he began playing piano in theaters showing silent films. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Stuart Mason.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1902 (Haverhill), Died 1980 (St. Clare's Hospital)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, 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 BVE-36545 10-in. 10/15/1926 Hugs and kisses Art Landry Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-37767 10-in. 2/11/1927 Au revoir (But not good-bye) B.F. Goodrich Silvertown Cord Orchestra ; Joseph M. Knecht Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-41297 10-in. 1/5/1928 Dolly Dimples Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor CVE-43303 12-in. 3/1/1928 Manhattan serenade Victor Salon Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-45404 10-in. 5/22/1928 High hat Jesse Crawford Pipe organ solo, with xylophone composer  
Victor BVE-46680 10-in. 8/10/1928 Blue shadows Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-47537 10-in. 9/20/1928 Blue shadows The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-49899 10-in. 3/7/1929 One for all, all for one Frank Munn ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-50912 10-in. 3/5/1929 My kinda love Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-51682 10-in. 5/3/1929 My kinda love Irene Beasley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-53616 10-in. 5/14/1929 My kinda love Napoleon's Emperors Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-53914 10-in. 7/11/1929 Gotta feelin' for you High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy ; Frank Luther Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-57516 10-in. 10/31/1929 That wonderful something Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal trio composer  
Victor BVE-57936 10-in. 12/20/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues High Hatters Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-57967 10-in. 12/30/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Morton Downey Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-63177 10-in. 10/28/1930 Overnight High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy ; Johnny Marvin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-67422 10-in. 1/26/1931 Overnight Lillian Davies Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-67448 10-in. 2/16/1931 I'm one of God's children Chick Bullock ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BSHQ-71930 10-in. 3/9/1932 What a life! (Trying to live without you) Coon-Sanders Orchestra ; J. L. Sanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor CRC-72592 12-in. 5/17/1932 Manhattan moonlight Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BS-75341 10-in. 3/1/1933 Hi-ho-lack-a-day Roy Bargy ; Ramona Piano duet and instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-77499 10-in. 8/16/1933 Come up and see me sometime Ramona Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BS-81772 10-in. 3/2/1934 I wonder who's keeping him now Ramona Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BS-84233 10-in. 9/7/1934 You ought to be arrested (For breaking my heart) June Joy ; Sam Robbins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-92909 10-in. 8/1/1935 (If love makes you give up) Steak and potatoes (Then I don't want love) Willie Bryant Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-97710 10-in. 8/13/1936 You turned the tables on me Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-99083 10-in. 2/13/1936 A melody from the sky Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Pete Woolery Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-99772 10-in. 3/12/1936 A melody from the sky Mezz Mezzrow Swing Band ; Lucille Steward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-0542 10-in. 9/24/1936 Rainbow on the river Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-0702 10-in. 9/17/1936 Rainbow on the river Carmen Lombardo ; Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-01807 10-in. 11/29/1936 A thousand dreams of you Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-01808 10-in. 11/29/1936 A thousand dreams of you Fats Waller and his Rhythm Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-02704 10-in. 10/19/1936 You turned the tables on me Vernon Geyer Organ solo composer  
Victor BS-03239 10-in. 11/17/1936 You turned the tables on me Tempo King ; Kings of Tempo ; Queenie Ada Rubin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-03560 10-in. 12/10/1936 A thousand dreams of you Dick Stabile Orchestra ; Frank Fleming Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-09557 10-in. 6/29/1937 My campfire dreams Bobby Breen ; Hugo Riesenfeld ; St. Luke Choristers ; St. Luke Orchestra Dubbed recording from film : Boy soprano vocal solo, with boys vocal chorus and orchestra composer  
Victor PBS-09649 10-in. 8/20/1937 Make a wish Bobby Breen Boy soprano vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor PBS-09650 10-in. 8/20/1937 Music in my heart Bobby Breen Boy soprano vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-011670 10-in. 8/6/1937 Make a wish Stuart Allen ; Richard Himber ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-011671 10-in. 8/6/1937 My campfire dreams Stuart Allen ; Richard Himber ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-011674 10-in. 8/7/1937 Turn on that red hot heat (Burn your blues away) Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-013756 10-in. 9/24/1937 Rainbow on the river Marimba Pan-Americana Marimba band composer  
Victor BS-044680 10-in. 2/1/1940 The sky fell down Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-046083 10-in. 1/6/1940 The sky fell down Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-046720 10-in. 1/25/1940 The sky fell down Shirley Howard Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-060347 10-in. 1/20/1941 Dolores The Pied Pipers ; Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble composer  
Victor BS-060618 10-in. 2/4/1941 Dolores Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-061559 10-in. 8/27/1941 Dolores Tito Guizar Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-065630 10-in. 5/19/1941 Love me as I am Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet composer  
Victor BS-065915 10-in. 5/28/1941 Love me as I am Frank Sinatra ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-071503 10-in. 9/26/1941 Dolores Marimba Pan-Americana Marimba band composer  
Victor PBS-072006 10-in. 12/27/1941 Fun to be free Freddy Martin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet composer  
Victor PBS-072518 10-in. 7/28/1942 Manhattan serenade Jan Savitt Orchestra ; Joe Martin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-075405 10-in. 7/2/1942 Manhattan serenade Jo Stafford ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and trombone quartet (take 1); with female vocal solo and trombone solo (take 2) composer  
Victor D6VB-1568 10-in. 1/17/1946 If I had a wishing ring Stuart Foster ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D6VB-2190 10-in. 10/17/1946 Endie Louis Armstrong ; Dixieland Seven Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D6VB-2192 10-in. 10/17/1946 Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans Louis Armstrong ; Dixieland Seven Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor D7VB-0912 10-in. 5/23/1947 Without music Tex Beneke ; Glenn Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble composer  
Victor D7VB-1986 10-in. 11/5/1947 You turned the tables on me Pat Flaherty ; Herbie Fields Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D7VB-3110 10-in. 12/31/1947 My kinda love Ray McKinley ; Ray McKinley Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor CS-Test-1070 12-in. 9/26/1933 Digga-digga-do Whispering Banjos String band composer  
Columbia 142599 10-in. 9/10/1926 Hugs and kisses Astorites ; Paul Hagan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W142664 10-in. 9/21/1926 Hugs and kisses Don Voorhees and his Earl Carroll's Vanities Orchestra ; Harold Yates Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W146434 10-in. 6/12/1928 High hat Constance Mering ; Muriel Pollock Piano duet composer  
Columbia 146802 10-in. 7/25/1928 Blue shadows Musical Comedy Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W146803 10-in. 7/25/1928 Blue shadows Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W147450 10-in. 11/7/1928 Blue shadows Goodrich Silvertown Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Columbia [W]147460 10-in. 11/14/1928 Blue shadows William Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar composer  
Columbia [W]148017 10-in. 3/5/1929 My kinda love (One way to paradise) The Singing Boys and their Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer  
Columbia W148064 10-in. 3/13/1929 My kinda love Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W148073 10-in. 3/14/1929 My kinda love Bing Crosby Male vocal solo, with violin, guitar, and piano composer  
Columbia W148141 10-in. 3/27/1929 My kinda love Campus Boys ; Ted Wallace Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble composer  
Columbia W148581 10-in. 6/9/1929 My kinda love Cliff Edwards Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W148617 10-in. 5/23/1929 Gotta feelin' for you The Seven Hot Air-Men Jazz/dance ensemble composer  
Columbia [W]148991 10-in. 9/11/1929 Gotta feelin' for you Penn Stage Recorders Jazz/dance band, with violin composer  
Columbia 149043 10-in. 9/24/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W149109 10-in. 10/8/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Johnny Morris ; Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W149187 10-in. 10/25/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Vic Meyers' Music Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 149191 10-in. 10/28/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Sam Lanin Orchestra ; Arthur Seelig Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W149454 10-in. 10/30/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Campus Boys ; Ted Wallace Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio composer  
Columbia W149491 10-in. 11/25/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Charlie Lawman Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia [W]149652 10-in. 11/29/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W151146 10-in. 1/6/1931 Overnight Smith Ballew Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W151203 10-in. 1/13/1931 Overnight Ruth Etting Female vocal solo composer  
Columbia W151225 10-in. 1/16/1931 I'm one of God's children (Who hasn't got wings) Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia [W]151247 10-in. 1/29/1931 Overnight Kate Smith Female vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152135 10-in. 3/16/1932 What a life (Trying to live without you) Art Kassel ; Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152383 10-in. 3/3/1933 (Hi-ho-lack-a-day) What have we got to lose Phil Harris Cocoanut Grove Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152432 10-in. 7/5/1933 Morning, noon and night Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Jack Miller Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W152442 10-in. 7/25/1933 My last year's girl Charles Agnew Stevens Hotel Orchestra ; Dusty Rhodes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia HCO1989 10-in. 9/2/1946 Twilight on the trail Gene Autry Male vocal solo, with string band composer  
Columbia W351162 10-in. 3/21/1932 What a life (Trying to live without you) Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh 80142 10-in. 9/28/1926 Hugs and kisses Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take C); with male vocal solo (takes A and B) composer  
OKeh W401283 10-in. 11/1/1928 Blue shadows Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W401443 10-in. 12/10/1928 Blue shadows Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W401478 10-in. 12/22/1928 My kinda love Charles W. Hamp Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W401562 10-in. 1/26/1929 My kinda love (One way to paradise) Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W401953 10-in. 5/21/1929 Gotta feelin' for you Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W402963 10-in. 9/18/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Smith Ballew ; Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W403072 10-in. 10/16/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) New Yorkers [Joe Venuti] ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W403077 10-in. 10/17/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W404570 10-in. 12/6/1930 Overnight Casa Loma Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E28260 10-in. 9/18/1928 Blue shadows Casa Lopez Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E28606 10-in. 11/2/1928 Blue shadows Glen Wick Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E29458 10-in. Mar. 1929 My kinda love (One way to paradise) Edith Evans Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E29582 10-in. Apr. 1929 My kinda love Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E30536 10-in. Sept. 1929 Love ain’t nothin’ but the blues Cotton and Morpheus Male vocal duet composer  
Brunswick E31503 10-in. Dec. 1929 That wonderful something is love Dick Robertson Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E35344 10-in. 11/7/1930 Overnight Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E35364 10-in. Nov. 1930 Overnight Emil Coleman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E35921 10-in. 1/13/1931 I’m one of God’s children (Who hasn’t got wings) Grace Johnston Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E35972 10-in. 2/2/1931 I’m one of God’s children (Who hasn’t got wings) Libby Holman Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E36028 10-in. 2/5/1931 Overnight Belle Baker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E36105 10-in. 2/19/1931 I’m one of God’s children (Who hasn’t got wings) New Orleans Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E20180-E20181 10-in. 9/16/1926 Hugs and kisses Virginia Rea Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E20296-E20297 10-in. 9/29/1926 Hugs and kisses Harold Leonard ; Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E20626-E20627 10-in. 11/4/1926 Hugs and kisses Frank Munn ; Virginia Rea Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E31132-E31133 10-in. Oct. 1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Roy Ingraham Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C2520 10-in. 11/5/1928 Blue shadows The Tune Peddlers Male vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
Brunswick C2660 10-in. 12/14/1928 My kinda love (One way to paradise) Walter Barnes ; Royal Creolians Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C3920 10-in. 7/22/1929 Gotta feeling for you Hollywood Shufflers Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Brunswick C4796 10-in. 12/5/1929 Love ain’t nothin’ but the blues George K. Arthur ; Three Aristocrats Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and orchestra composer  
Brunswick C4866 10-in. 9/13/1929 Gotta feelin’ for you Lee Sims Piano solo composer  
Brunswick LTR133 10-in. approximately June 1929 Got a feelin’ for you Joan Crawford Female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick LTR210 10-in. 8/26/1929 Love ain’t nothin’ but the blues George K. Arthur Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick LTR217 10-in. 9/23/1929 I’ve waited a lifetime for you Joan Crawford Female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick LTR249 10-in. 11/15/1929 Hot chocolate Bessie Love Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Brunswick LAE499 10-in. 5/10/1929 Gotta feelin’ for you Earl Burtnett ; Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal trio; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick LAE628 10-in. 9/24/1929 Love ain’t nothin’ but the blues Charles King Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick TC3120 10-in. 3/14/1929 My kinda love Ilomay Bailey Female vocal solo composer  
Edison 11184 10-in. 9/9/1926 Hugs and kisses Jack Albin Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18283 10-in. 3/6/1928 Dolly Dimples Murray Kellner Dinner Music Ensemble Instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison 18550 10-in. 5/29/1928 High hat Duke Yellman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18670 10-in. 8/22/1928 Blue shadows Duke Yellman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison N-123 10-in. 3/6/1928 Dolly Dimples Murray Kellner Dinner Music Ensemble Instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison N-378 10-in. 8/22/1928 Blue shadows Duke Yellman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison N-1162 10-in. 9/26/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alter, Louis," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108761.

Alter, Louis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108761.

"Alter, Louis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108761

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