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Ben Selvin

Benjamin Bernard Selvin (March 5, 1898 – July 15, 1980) was an American musician, bandleader, and record producer. He was known as the Dean of Recorded Music.

Selvin was born in New York City, United States, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He started his professional life at age 15 as a fiddle player in New York City night clubs. Six years later, as leader of his own dance band, the Novelty Orchestra, he released what was later alleged to be the biggest-selling popular song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. "Dardanella" allegedly sold more than six million copies and an additional million pieces of sheet music—although in a joint interview with Gustave Haenschen, founding director of popular-music releases at Brunswick Records, Selvin described the alleged record-sales total as “nonsensical” and said the actual sales of “Dardanella” and other purported “million-sellers” in the 1920s was 150,000 discs. He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that was presented to Selvin on his retirement on March 14, 1963.

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Selvin recorded more musical sides (on 78-rpm discs) than any other person. One reason for this prolific output is that he recorded for dozens of different record labels during this productive time in the industry, using a different name for each label. His output has been estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 song titles.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1898 (New York City), Died July 15, 1980 (Manhasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, violin, vocalist, songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W140513 10-in. 4/10/1925 All aboard for heaven Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140514 10-in. 4/10/1925 The original Charleston Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140517 10-in. 4/11/1925 I've found my sweetheart Sally Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140518 10-in. 4/11/1925 Oh, how I miss you tonight Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140524 10-in. 4/14/1925 Hong Kong dream girl Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140525 10-in. 4/14/1925 Tea for two The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140623 10-in. 5/26/1925 Steppin' in society Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140624 10-in. 5/26/1925 Collegiate Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140631 10-in. 5/28/1925 Dreamy Carolina moon Vernon Dalhart ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W140632 10-in. 5/28/1925 Take me back, Marguerite The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140765 10-in. 7/15/1925 Manhattan The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140766 10-in. 7/15/1925 Sentimental me The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140769 10-in. 7/16/1925 Day dreaming Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140770 10-in. 7/16/1925 Funny The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 140828 10-in. 8/10/1925 Cecilia Harmony Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 140829 10-in. 8/10/1925 I'm tired of everything but you Harmony Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 140830 10-in. 8/10/1925 Yes sir, that's my baby Harmony Dance Orchestra ; Billy Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W140877 10-in. 8/28/1925 Breezin' along (To Georgia) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W140878 10-in. 8/28/1925 Let's wander away Lewis James ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W141105 10-in. 10/14/1925 When I dream of the last waltz with you The Cavaliers ; Lewis James Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W141133 10-in. 10/14/1925 Golden memories The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 141134 10-in. 10/14/1925 Manhattan Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 141135 10-in. 10/14/1925 I wonder where my baby is to-night Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia 141136 10-in. 10/14/1925 What a blue eyed baby you are Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W141139 10-in. 10/16/1925 I wonder where my baby is to-night? Robert Benjamin ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
(Results 26-50 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064

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