Henry Blossom

Henry Martyn Blossom, Jr. (May 10, 1866 – March 23, 1919) was an American writer, playwright, novelist, opera librettist, and lyricist. He first gained wide attention for his second novel, Checkers: A Hard Luck Story (1896), which was successfully adapted by Blossom into a 1903 Broadway play, Checkers. It was Blossom's first stage work and his first critical success in the theatre. The play in turn was adapted by others creatives into two silent films, one in 1913 and the other in 1919, and the play was the basis for the 1920 Broadway musical Honey Girl. Checkers was soon followed by Blossom's first critical success as a lyricist, the comic opera The Yankee Consul (1903), on which he collaborated with fellow Saint Louis resident and composer Alfred G. Robyn. This work was also adapted into a silent film in 1921. He later collaborated with Robyn again; writing the book and lyrics for their 1912 musical All for the Ladies.

Blossom had a lengthy and fruitful partnership as a librettist for the operetta composer Victor Herbert. He began his collaboration with Herbert with Mlle. Modiste (1905). This was followed by several other operettas, of which the best known are Mlle. Modiste (1905), The Red Mill (1906), The Princess Pat (1915), and Eileen (1917). For the 1916 musical The Century Girl, both he and Herbert collaborated with composer Irving Berlin. He also collaborated with Herbert on the musicals The Only Girl (1914) and The Velvet Lady (1919). The latter work premiered shortly before Blossom's death in 1919 and marked their final collaboration. Several of their works have been adapted into films.

Blossom also wrote the lyrics and books for Broadway musicals made with composers Leslie Stuart, Raymond Hubbell, and Zoel Parenteau. He was also involved with several shows that failed to reach Broadway.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 10, 1866 (St. Louis), Died March 23, 1919 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1904 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-16628 10-in. 10/8/1915 I need affection Olive Kline Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-16857 12-in. 12/3/1915 Gems from The princess Pat Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-16993 10-in. 1/10/1916 Kiss me again Alice Green Female vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19445 10-in. 4/5/1917 Free trade and a misty moon Greek Evans Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus, harp, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19446 10-in. 4/5/1917 The Irish have a great day tonight Scott Welsh Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus, harp, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19447 10-in. 4/5/1917 Ireland, my Sireland John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19448 10-in. 4/5/1917 Eileen John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-19545 12-in. 4/3/1917 Gems from Eileen Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-19550 12-in. 4/3/1917 Gems from Eileen Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22284 10-in. 10/14/1918 Kiss me again Mabel Garrison Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22661 10-in. 3/28/1919 Life and love Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with cello, violin, bells, piano, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23751 10-in. 2/26/1920 When you're away Mabel Garrison Soprano vocal solo, with piano and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-27589 10-in. 3/2/1923 I want what I want when I want it Royal Dadmun Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-28472 10-in. 9/12/1923 Kiss me again Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-40296 12-in. 10/10/1927 Kiss me again Victor Salon Group Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-40536 12-in. 11/2/1927 Selections from Princess Pat Victor Salon Group Orchestra, with mixed vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor CVE-40608 12-in. 10/13/1927 Selections from The red mill Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-46102 10-in. 6/15/1928 When shall I again see Ireland? Colin O'More Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-49942 10-in. 2/11/1929 Moonbeams Richard Crooks Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-49943 10-in. 2/11/1929 When you're away Richard Crooks Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-64359 12-in. 11/18/1930 Selections from Eileen Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Salon Orchestra Mixed vocal chorus and tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CVE-64392 12-in. 12/5/1930 Selections from The only girl Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Salon Group Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor CS-73319 12-in. 8/24/1932 Neapolitan love song Richard Crooks ; William Merrigan Daly Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-043395 10-in. 11/20/1939 Moonbeams (A serenade) Norsemen Male vocal quartet, with instrumental quintet lyricist  
Victor BS-068159 10-in. 11/6/1941 When you're away Emile Coté ; Margaret Daum ; Victor Mixed Chorus Mixed vocal chorus, with female vocal solo and piano lyricist  
(Results 26-50 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blossom, Henry," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

Blossom, Henry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

"Blossom, Henry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508

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