Ben Ryan

Bennett A. "Ben" Ryan (March 30, 1892 – July 5, 1968) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics to the popular song "(The Gang that Sang) Heart of My Heart". He also wrote or co-wrote many other popular songs including "Inka Dinka Doo", "M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I", "No Nothing", "The Thrill of a New Romance", "When Frances Dances with Me", and "When I Send You a Picture of Berlin"

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Ryan was also a vaudeville performer, film actor and screen writer. Between 1914–1925, he teamed with Harriet Lee as the "Ryan & Lee" duo's comedy and singing-and-dancing vaudeville acts, including the hit "Won and One is Two". Following a lengthy illness, on July 5, 1968, he died at his home in Leonia, New Jersey.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 30, 1892, Died July 5, 1968

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

= 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-20460 10-in. 7/30/1917 M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i Frances White Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21939 10-in. 5/29/1918 When I send you a picture of Berlin (You'll know it's over 'over there,' I'm coming home) Arthur Fields ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-25519 10-in. 8/17/1921 When Francis dances with me Ada Jones ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27707 10-in. 3/22/1923 For crying out loud Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-53459 10-in. 6/6/1929 When we get together in the moonlight Belle Mann ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-56186 10-in. 10/16/1929 Melancholy Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-57136 10-in. 11/5/1929 Melancholy Horace Heidt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-78568 10-in. 11/22/1933 Inka dinka doo Hotel McAlpin Orchestra ; Sam Robbins Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-81100 10-in. 12/26/1933 Inka dinka doo The Chanters ; Don Bestor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BAVE-86662 10-in. 10/3/1934 Inka-dinka-doo Orquesta Típica Victor Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-035373 10-in. 3/29/1939 A ruble a rhumba Elisse Cooper ; Eddie De Lange Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-035737 10-in. 4/11/1939 A ruble a rhumba Jimmy Brown ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye ; The Three Barons Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal trio lyricist  
Victor PBS-042290 10-in. 12/11/1939 One cigarette for two Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Eddie Stone Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-044642 10-in. 1/19/1940 One cigarette for two Wayne King Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-053244 10-in. 7/26/1940 Love tales Carl Ravazza Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1126 10-in. 9/14/1945 The gang that sang heart of my heart Ginger Snaps ; James Mundy Mixed vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D7VB-1633 10-in. 9/22/1947 The gang that sang heart of my heart Three Suns Vocal group, with instrumental trio composer  
Columbia 47433 10-in. 3/17/1917 M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i Anna Wheaton Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77833 10-in. 5/18/1918 When I send you a picture of Berlin Arthur Fields ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 78179 10-in. 11/19/1918 Jim, Jim, I always knew that you'd win Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 79741 10-in. 2/28/1921 Vamping Rose Tod Weinhold Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80024 10-in. 10/13/1921 I hold her hand and she holds mine Al Herman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80078 10-in. 11/25/1921 When Francis dances with me Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80276 10-in. 4/5/1922 Down on Avenue A Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 148372 10-in. 4/23/1929 That's living Harry Barth's Mississippians ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W148526 10-in. 5/14/1929 That's living Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W148612 10-in. 5/22/1929 When we get together in the moonlight (We get along great) Charlie Lawman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W148958 10-in. 8/30/1929 Melancholy The Diplomats Vocal ensemble, with alto saxophone and piano-accordion lyricist  
Columbia 149054 10-in. 9/26/1929 Melancholy Sam Lanin Orchestra ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W149451 10-in. 10/28/1929 Melancholy Vic Meyers' Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W152558 10-in. 11/21/1933 Inka dinka doo Ferde Grofé Orchestra ; Rhythm Boys Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet lyricist  
OKeh 406 10-in. ca. Oct. 1918 Coming through the Rhine Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-7841 10-in. Mar. 1921 Vamping rose Vaughn De Leath ; Rega Orchestra Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70327 10-in. Nov. 1921 When Francis dances with me Vaughn De Leath ; Billy Jones Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70328 10-in. Nov. 1921 I'm a dog-gone struttin' fool Vaughn De Leath Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70360 10-in. Dec. 1921 I hold her hand and she holds mine Elsie Clark Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70922 10-in. Oct. 1922 For crying out loud Elsie Clark Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh W403034 10-in. 10/7/1929 Pretty little you Charles W. Hamp Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Brunswick E35872 10-in. 2/18/1931 I’ve got a sweet somebody to love me Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36188 10-in. 2/26/1931 I’ve got a sweet somebody to love me The Travelers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E30940-E30941 10-in. Sept. 1929 Pretty little you Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick C4705 10-in. 11/5/1929 Melancholy Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick C4777 10-in. 12/2/1929 Melancholy Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Brunswick C4778 10-in. 12/2/1929 Melancholy Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Edison 6234 10-in. between 6/17/1918 and 6/20/1918 When I send you a picture of Berlin (You'll know it's over, "Over there," I'm coming home) Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 6322 10-in. 8/12/1918 When I send you a picture of Berlin medley Jaudas' Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Edison 6472 10-in. 11/27/1918 Jim, Jim, I always knew that you'd win Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7869 10-in. 3/24/1921 Vamping Rose Billy Jones Male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 11142 10-in. 8/3/1926 That gang that sang "Heart of my heart" National Male Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 19157 10-in. 4/15/1929 That's living Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Edison 19237 10-in. 6/5/1929 If I'm wrong, sue me Merry Melody Men ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Edison 19239 10-in. 6/5/1929 When we get together in the moonlight (We get along great) Ermine Calloway Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison N-856 10-in. 4/15/1929 That's living Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Edison N-942 10-in. 6/5/1929 If I'm wrong, sue me Merry Melody Men ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Edison N-944 10-in. 6/5/1929 When we get together in the moonlight (We get along great) Ermine Calloway Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison N-991 10-in. 7/1/1929 When we get together in the moonlight (We get along great) Ermine Calloway Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ryan, Ben," accessed May 8, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108859.

Ryan, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 8, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108859.

"Ryan, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 8 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108859

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ben Ryan

Discogs: Ben Ryan

IMDb: Ben Ryan

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Ryan, Ben, 1892-1968 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no89014245

Wikidata: Ben Ryan - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4886400

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/63564289

MusicBrainz: Ben Ryan - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/054b296b-d5b0-43e5-86e6-4c4cb91531ce

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

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