Larry Shay

Larry Shay (né Lawrence Fredrick Schaetzlein; 10 August 1897 Chicago – 22 February 1988 Newport Beach, California) was an American songwriter.

Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929 he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling" (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin).

In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired him to become their music director and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired Bing Crosby, who was paid $50 a day by MGM for his first picture.

He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz Society in Ventura, California.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 10, 1897 (Chicago), Died February 22, 1988 (Newport Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 221 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-37218 10-in. 12/9/1926 When I first met Mary Ben Pollack's Californians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-38390 10-in. 5/5/1927 Wherever you go, whatever you do (I want you to know I love you) Lewis James ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-39596 10-in. 9/2/1927 Highways are happy ways (When they lead the way to home) Cooper Lawley ; Harold Yates Male vocal duet, with piano and pipe organ composer  
Victor BVE-39599 10-in. 9/8/1927 Highways are happy ways (When they lead the way to home) Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-40019 10-in. 9/20/1927 Let's make believe Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-41341 10-in. 12/6/1927 Everywhere you go Frankie Masters Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 3 and 4); with male vocal trio (takes 1 and 2) composer  
Victor BVE-41380 10-in. 12/15/1927 Beautiful Jack Crawford Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-43392 10-in. 3/22/1928 Just across the street from heaven Johnny Johnson ; Statler Pennsylvanians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Victor BVE-43543 10-in. 4/9/1928 Just across the street from heaven Jack Shilkret Piano solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-43699 10-in. 5/3/1928 Get out and get under the moon Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-43912 10-in. 4/24/1928 Just across the street from heaven Franklyn Baur Male vocal solo, with 2 pianos songwriter  
Victor BVE-45408 10-in. 5/28/1928 When you're smiling Hotel Sinton Orchestra ; Henry Thies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-45583 10-in. 6/13/1928 Beautiful National Cavaliers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-45880 10-in. 7/16/1928 Get out and get under the moon Helen Kane Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-46409 10-in. 7/15/1928 That old sweetheart of mine Don Bestor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-48616 10-in. 11/23/1928 Withered roses Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-48627 10-in. 11/27/1928 Who wouldn't be jealous of you? Coon-Sanders Original Nighthawk Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-48801 10-in. 1/17/1929 Can you blame me (cause I fell in love with you?) Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band (takes 2-4); with male vocal solo (take 1) composer  
Victor BVE-48808 10-in. 1/22/1929 Tomorrow's violets Hotel Sinton Orchestra ; Henry Thies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-49893 10-in. 2/27/1929 Little black sheep Art Kassel ; "Kassels-in-the-Air" Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-58528 10-in. 1/28/1930 When you're smiling (The whole world smiles with you) King Oliver Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62290 10-in. 6/26/1930 Rich man, beggar, pauper, king Peter Higgins Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-62376 10-in. 7/30/1930 Gee, but I'd like to make you happy Clare Hanlon ; Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BRC-69610 10-in. 5/13/1931 I can't get enough of you Frank Luther ; Wooding’s Grand Central Red Caps Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor CS-74877 12-in. 12/21/1932 Medley of Armstrong hits Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and trumpet solo composer  
(Results 26-50 of 221 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shay, Larry," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

Shay, Larry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

"Shay, Larry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661

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