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 51-75 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-068164 10-in. 11/6/1941 Thine alone Emile Coté ; Margaret Daum ; Victor Mixed Chorus Mixed vocal chorus, with female vocal solo and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-075415 10-in. 7/9/1942 Thine alone Dorothy Kirsten ; Felix Knight ; Victor First Nighter Orchestra Female-male vocal duet and mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor E0RB-4640 10-in. 5/19/1950 Moonbeams Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor E0RB-4708 10-in. 5/26/1950 Because you're you Frank Black ; RCA Victor Orchestra ; Risë Stevens Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus lyricist  
Victor PBS-Test-1393 10-in. 7/9/1935 When you're away Genevieve Wylie Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor LBS-Test-2207 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 7/5/1935 If I were on the stage Frances White Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 1790 10-in. ca. 1904-1908 Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 1791 10-in. ca. 1904 In the days of old Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 1811 10-in. ca. Jan.-Aug. 1904 Cupid has found my heart Corinne Morgan Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3413 10-in. ca. Jan.-June 1906 I want what I want when I want it George Alexander Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3534 10-in. ca. 1906 Good-a-bye, John Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3544 10-in. approximately 1906 The streets of New York Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3589 10-in. between January and March 1907 Whistle it Ada Jones ; Billy Murray ; Frank C. Stanley Mixed vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 3590 10-in. ca. Late 1906-Mar. 1907 Because you're you Frank C. Stanley ; Elise Stevenson Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46213 10-in. 11/19/1915 Love is the best of all Eleanor Painter Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46352 10-in. 1/18/1916 Two laughing Irish eyes Eleanor Painter Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46640 10-in. 3/15/1916 Kiss me again Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47179 10-in. 11/21/1916 The century girl Inez Barbour Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47479 10-in. 4/11/1917 Ireland my sireland Vernon Stiles Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47480 10-in. 4/11/1917 The Irish have a great day tonight Columbia Stellar Quartette ; Vernon Stiles Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77843 10-in. 5/22/1918 Kiss me again Hulda Lashanska Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81580 10-in. 2/21/1924 When shall I again see Ireland? William A. Kennedy Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30503 12-in. approximately late May 1910 Ain't it funny what a difference just a few hours make? Raymond Hitchcock Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 30555 12-in. 10/13/1910 In the days of old Raymond Hitchcock Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 37079 12-in. 11/25/1914 When you're away Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 51-75 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blossom, Henry," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

Blossom, Henry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

"Blossom, Henry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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