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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 626-650 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W150972 10-in. 11/24/1930 On a little balcony in Spain Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W150973 10-in. 11/24/1930 Hurt Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151111 10-in. 12/13/1930 Gazing at the stars Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151112 10-in. 12/13/1930 You're the one I care for Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151113 10-in. 12/13/1930 To whom it may concern Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151114 10-in. 12/13/1930 There's something missing in your eyes Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151117 10-in. 12/12/1930 I miss a little miss (Who misses me in sunny Tennessee) Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble leader  
Columbia W151118 10-in. 12/12/1930 Cheerful little earful Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151161 10-in. 12/8/1930 You're driving me crazy (What did I do?) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151162 10-in. 12/8/1930 Under the spell of your kiss Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151163 10-in. 12/8/1930 Hurt Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]151164 10-in. 12/8/1930 I hate myself (For falling in love with you) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151169 10-in. 12/19/1930 Tears Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble leader  
Columbia W151177 10-in. 12/26/1930 Yours and mine Smith Ballew ; Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151178 10-in. 12/26/1930 On a little balcony in Spain Smith Ballew ; Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151179 10-in. 12/26/1930 Lady, play your mandolin Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151180 10-in. 12/26/1930 Little Spanish dancer Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Al Shayne Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151207 10-in. 1/15/1931 He's not worth your tears Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151211 10-in. 1/14/1931 Don't forget me in your dreams The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151212 10-in. 1/14/1931 Little sweetheart of the prairie The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151217 10-in. 1/15/1931 Would you like to take a walk? Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151218 10-in. 1/15/1931 Personally I love you Johnny Walker and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151282 10-in. 2/6/1931 Wabash moon The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W151283 10-in. 2/6/1931 When your hair has turned to silver The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W151284 10-in. 2/6/1931 Sing song girl (Little yella Cinderella) Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
(Results 626-650 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed May 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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