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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 876-900 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W351161 10-in. 2/29/1932 (You only want me) When nobody else is around Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh S-7251 10-in. Feb. 1920 Desert dreams Selvin's Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-7252 10-in. Feb. 1920 Afghanistan Selvin's Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-7909 10-in. May 1921 Moonlight Selvin's Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh S-7910 10-in. May 1921 Tea leaves Selvin's Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh W80283 10-in. 1/4/1927 My little bunch of happiness Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
OKeh W80284 10-in. 1/4/1927 I never see Maggie alone Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
OKeh W80285 10-in. 1/4/1927 Here or there (As long as I'm with you) Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
OKeh W80310 10-in. 1/19/1927 Sam, the old accordion man Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh W80311 10-in. 1/19/1927 High-high-high up in the hills Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh W80312 10-in. 1/19/1927 If I didn't know your husband (And you didn't know my wife) Bar Harbor Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh W404014 10-in. 5/14/1930 Down the river of golden dreams Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh W404015 10-in. 5/14/1930 The Rangers' song (We're all pals together) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble leader  
OKeh W404016 10-in. 5/14/1930 Anchors aweigh Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal leader  
OKeh W490069 10-in. 5/14/1930 Down the river of golden dreams Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh W490070 10-in. 5/14/1930 The Rangers' song (We're all pals together) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
OKeh W490071 10-in. 5/14/1930 Anchors aweigh Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6922 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 Goodbye, pretty butterflies Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6925 10-in. approximately Dec. 1921 Smilin' Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick [7283a] approximately Jan. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 7298 10-in. approximately Jan. 1922 Rosy posy Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 7749 10-in. approximately Mar. 1922 Every day Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick [7750a] approximately Mar. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 7902 10-in. approximately Apr. 1922 No use crying Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Brunswick 6414-6416 10-in. approximately Sept. 1921 Love will find a way Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
(Results 876-900 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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