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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 126-150 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 143360 10-in. 1/27/1927 I'm looking over a four leaf clover The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 143361 10-in. 1/27/1927 Put your arms where they belong Jimmy Flynn ; The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 143362 10-in. 1/27/1927 You should see my tootsie now Robert Benjamin ; The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
Columbia W143372 10-in. 1/31/1927 Lazy river (Flowing to the Southland) The Cavaliers ; Lewis James ; Elliott Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W143373 10-in. 1/31/1927 That saxophone waltz The Cavaliers ; Lewis James Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143464 10-in. 2/11/1927 Rio Rita Charles Kaley ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143465 10-in. 2/11/1927 The kinkajou The Knickerbockers ; Johnny Marvin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143496 10-in. 2/18/1927 I could waltz on forever with you, sweetheart The Cavaliers ; Billy Jones Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143498 10-in. 2/19/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Columbians ; Charles Kaley Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 143509 10-in. 2/21/1927 I've never seen a straight banana The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 143510 10-in. 2/21/1927 Mine The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 143511 10-in. 2/21/1927 Lily The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143573 10-in. 3/3/1927 Following you around Frank Harris ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143574 10-in. 3/3/1927 The love waltz The Cavaliers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143691 10-in. 3/19/1927 Calling The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143692 10-in. 3/19/1927 Nesting time The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 144003 10-in. 4/7/1927 (What do I care what) Somebody said Arthur Fields ; The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 144004 10-in. 4/7/1927 I'll always remember you The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 144005 10-in. 4/7/1927 (Does she love me?) Positively, absolutely The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Jack Wilson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W144042 10-in. 4/25/1927 Rosy cheeks Frank Harris ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W144043 10-in. 4/25/1927 One summer night Frank Harris ; The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 144409 10-in. 6/29/1927 Gid-ap, Garibaldi The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Jack Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 144410 10-in. 6/29/1927 You don't like it—not much Robert Benjamin ; The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, leader  
Columbia 144411 10-in. 6/29/1927 Wy-lets The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble leader  
Columbia W144497 10-in. 7/25/1927 Who's wonderful, who's marvelous? Miss Annabelle Lee The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, vocalist  
(Results 126-150 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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