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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 726-750 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W152104 10-in. 2/4/1932 Rain on the roof Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152105 10-in. 2/4/1932 Auf wiedersehen, my dear Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152110 10-in. 2/11/1932 Just friends Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152113 10-in. 2/29/1932 My mom Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152121 10-in. 3/1/1932 Snuggled on your shoulder (Cuddled in your arms) Kate Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W152122 10-in. 3/1/1932 Love, you funny thing! Kate Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W152125 10-in. 3/8/1932 You can make my life a bed of roses (Marry me) Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152126 10-in. 3/8/1932 Them good old times Bob Miller's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152127 10-in. 3/8/1932 Too many tears Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152128 10-in. 3/8/1932 On the road to Mandalay Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W152129 10-in. 3/8/1932 Say Mickie Alpert and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W152193 10-in. 5/12/1932 Crazy people Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio leader  
Columbia W152194 10-in. 5/12/1932 Is I in love? I is Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio leader  
Columbia W152195 10-in. 5/12/1932 Lullaby of the leaves Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W152196 10-in. 5/12/1932 Whistle and blow your blues away Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W152209 10-in. 6/9/1932 Cabin in the cotton Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Helen Rowland Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152210 10-in. 6/9/1932 (I've got the words—I've got the tune) Hummin' to myself Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152211 10-in. 6/9/1932 Masquerade The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152212 10-in. 6/9/1932 Sylvia The Cavaliers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet leader  
Columbia W152221 10-in. 6/23/1932 The lady I love The Knickerbockers ; Bruce Noble Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152222 10-in. 6/23/1932 All of a sudden The Knickerbockers ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152223 10-in. 6/23/1932 Holding my honey's hand Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152224 10-in. 6/23/1932 Sleep, come on and take me Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W152265 10-in. 8/15/1932 I love a parade Harry Richman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W152266 10-in. 8/15/1932 It was so beautiful Harry Richman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
(Results 726-750 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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