Helmy Kresa

Helmy Kresa, (born in Meissen, Germany on November 7, 1904, died 1991, Long Island, New York) was a songwriter and the principal arranger and orchestrator for Irving Berlin.

In 1931 Kresa wrote "That's My Desire", which Frankie Laine, Louis Armstrong and a host of others recorded. He also composed the instrumental music for Martin Scorsese's film Raging Bull.

Kresa's was the first published arrangement of "All of Me", written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. He also acted as the arranger for Berlin for some stage musicals, including Call Me Madam (1952), Miss Liberty (1950) and Annie Get Your Gun (1949).

In 1926, Kresa began working for Berlin, where he transcribed what Berlin was playing into musical manuscript form as Berlin could neither read nor write music, eventually becoming the general professional manager of the Irving Berlin Music Company.

He died of pneumonia in Southampton Hospital, Southampton, Long Island, New York.

His son is Kent Kresa.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 7, 1904 (Meissen), Died August 19, 1991 (Long Island)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, arranger, songwriter

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BRC-69609 10-in. 5/13/1931 That's my desire Dick Robertson ; Wooding’s Grand Central Red Caps Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor ABRC-69914 10-in. 6/9/1931 That's my desire Don Byron ; Ronald Sachs Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BRC-70943 10-in. 11/2/1931 Hiding in the shadows of the moon Peter Van Steeden Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-73302 10-in. 8/16/1932 Something in the night Jack Fulton ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take 3); with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) composer  
Victor BS-75318 10-in. 2/26/1933 Close to my heart Don Bestor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor LBS-75320 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 2/26/1933 Dance medley Don Bestor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-037405 10-in. 5/31/1939 An old-fashioned tune is always new Betty Bradley ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-060318 10-in. 1/13/1941 My one romance Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo arranger  
Victor D7VB-0206 10-in. 3/27/1947 That's my desire Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W151196 10-in. 1/12/1931 Headin' for better times Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo arranger  
Columbia W152291 10-in. 8/26/1932 Something in the night Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Columbia W152374 10-in. 2/9/1933 Close to my heart Phil Regan Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W351136 10-in. 11/23/1931 Hiding in the shadows of the moon Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E36858 10-in. 6/12/1931 That’s my desire Snooks Friedman Memphis Stompers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio composer  
Brunswick E36894 10-in. 6/30/1931 That’s my desire Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E37335 10-in. 10/28/1931 Hiding in the shadows of the moon Dick Robertson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick Special no. 1 10-in. 9/2/1931 That’s my desire Noble’s [sic] Instrumental ensemble composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kresa, Helmy," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112052.

Kresa, Helmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112052.

"Kresa, Helmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112052

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