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 76-99 of 99 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh 603 10-in. ca. Feb. 1919 Life and love George Lambert Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh [OK cat 1048-b] 10-in. approximately June 1918 Kiss me again Grace Kerns Female vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick 4010 10-in. approximately Aug. 1920 Kiss me again Irene Williams Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 13966-13968 10-in. 10/15/1924 Kiss me again Virginia Rea Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E28413 10-in. 9/21/1928 Kiss me again Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E29715 10-in. Apr. 1929 Moonbeams Jessica Dragonette Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E30396 10-in. July 1929 When you’re away Jessica Dragonette Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E30837 10-in. Sept. 1929 When you’re away Jessica Dragonette Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E32470 10-in. Mar. 1930 When you’re away Jessica Dragonette Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E22411-E22412 10-in. 4/14/1927 Kiss me again Carter's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E23713-E23715 10-in. 6/22/1927 Kiss me again Gladys Rice Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 1301 10-in. 10/17/1912 Because you're you Thomas Chalmers ; Elizabeth Spencer Vocal duet (soprano and Male), with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 3503 10-in. 1/8/1915 When you're away Marie De Kyser Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 3633 10-in. 3/9/1915 When you're away Marie De Kyser Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 4164 10-in. 10/1/1915 I'd like to have you around Gladys Rice ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 4171 10-in. 10/6/1915 Love is the best of all Blanche Duffield Soprano vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 6492 10-in. between 12/2/1918 12/11/1918 Kiss me again Marie Tiffany Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 6640 10-in. 2/26/1919 Life and love Hadley Wright Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 8918 10-in. 4/11/1923 Novelty imitation medley Edith Helena Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 18714 10-in. 9/10/1928 Kiss me again Olive Palmer Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison N-419 12-in. 9/10/1928 Kiss me again Olive Palmer Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Leeds & Catlin [L & C cat 217-B] 10-in. between late 1908 and early 1909 Because you're you Frank C. Stanley ; Elise Stevenson Female-male vocal duet lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CA17007 10-in. between June and November 1938 Thine alone Charles Kullman Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CA17008 10-in. between June and November 1938 When you're away Charles Kullman Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 76-99 of 99 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Blossom, Henry," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

Blossom, Henry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109508.

"Blossom, Henry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.