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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 701-725 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W151871 10-in. 10/30/1931 Tell me with a love song Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151872 10-in. 11/2/1931 She didn't say "yes" Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151873 10-in. 11/2/1931 When the rest of the crowd goes home (I always go home alone) Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Columbia W151881 10-in. 11/17/1931 Where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151882 10-in. 11/17/1931 You were my salvation The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151891 10-in. 11/27/1931 Bend down, sister Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151892 10-in. 11/27/1931 (Potatoes are cheaper—tomatoes are cheaper) Now's the time to fall in love Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151893 10-in. 11/27/1931 Save the last dance for me The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151894 10-in. 11/27/1931 I wonder who's under the moon with you tonight The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151895 10-in. 12/1/1931 The pardon of Tom Mooney Bob Ferguson and his Scalawaggers Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin), piano, and guitar composer  
Columbia W152048 10-in. 12/18/1931 All of me Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152049 10-in. 12/18/1931 I found you Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152051 10-in. 12/29/1931 Who's your little who-zis! The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152052 10-in. 12/29/1931 Oh! What a thrill (To hear it from you) Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152053 10-in. 12/29/1931 With love in my heart The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152054 10-in. 12/29/1931 Good-night moon Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152067 10-in. 1/15/1932 New twenty-one years Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W152068 10-in. 1/15/1932 Fifty years repentin' Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin) and guitar instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W152069 10-in. 1/15/1932 When we're alone Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152070 10-in. 1/15/1932 Was that the human thing to do? Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152071 10-in. 1/15/1932 You're my everything Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152078 10-in. 1/18/1932 Who cares? (So long as you care for me) The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W152079 10-in. 1/18/1932 Of thee I sing The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W152097 10-in. 1/29/1932 Delishious Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152098 10-in. 1/29/1932 Dancing on the ceiling Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Chester Gaylord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 701-725 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed May 15, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 15, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 15 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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