Esther Walker

Esther Walker (nee Thomas October 18, 1894 – July 26, 1943) was an American musical comedy performer.

Esther Walker was born Esther Thomas in Pewee Valley, Kentucky. Adopting the stage name of Esther Walker, she appeared on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in a 1919 production of Monte Cristo Jr., and later that year performed at the 44th Street Theatre in Hello, Alexander. Walker recorded over 32 songs for Victor and Brunswick record labels, from 1919 to 1920 and 1925 to 1927, including "Sahara (We'll Soon Be Dry Like You)" from Monte Cristo, Jr.

Walker married Texas businessman Karl Hoblitzelle, a manager of movie and vaudeville theatres. The couple founded the Hoblitzelle Foundation in 1942, which still exists today.

Walker died of cancer in Dallas, Texas, on July 26, 1943, at the age of 48.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 18, 1894 (Pewee Valley), Died July 26, 1943 (Dallas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 59 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-23089 10-in. 7/23/1919 Sahara (We'll soon be dry like you) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23090 10-in. 7/23/1919 Nobody knows (And nobody seems to care) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin duet and orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23173 10-in. 9/26/1919 Blues (My naughty sweetie gives to me) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23174 10-in. 9/26/1919 Sweet kisses Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin obbligato and orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23480 10-in. 11/18/1919 How sorry you'll be (Wait'll you see) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23481 10-in. 11/18/1919 All the Quakers are shoulder shakers (Down in Quakertown) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23484 10-in. 11/20/1919 I'll dance my way right back to Dixieland Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-23485 10-in. 11/20/1919 Slow and easy Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24107 10-in. 5/12/1920 After you get what you want, you don't want it Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24108 10-in. 5/12/1920 What-cha gonna do when there ain't no jazz? Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24602 10-in. 9/29/1920 Gone are the days Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24603 10-in. 9/29/1920 The race track blues Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24604 10-in. 9/29/1920 I want to be the leader of a band Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24605 10-in. 9/30/1920 Nobody to love Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with cello and orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-24606 10-in. 9/30/1920 You're just a little too late Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin and orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1919-10-04-01] Not documented 10/4/1919 Monologue Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1925-11-19-03] 10-in. 11/19/1925 I wonder where my baby is tonight Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1925-11-19-04] 10-in. 11/19/1925 What makes me love you like I do Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17153 10-in. 12/19/1925 Five foot two, eyes of blue (Has anybody seen my girl) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick [E17289a] 12/29/1925 [“Rehearsal”] Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17986 10-in. 2/15/1926 Poor Papa (He's got nuthin' at all) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick [E2415-E2416a] 2/12/1926 [Rehearsal] Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick [E2420-E2422a] 2/13/1926 [Rehearsal] Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17067-E17069 10-in. 12/8/1925 Keep your skirts down, Mary Ann Billy Jones ; Esther Walker Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17130-E17132 10-in. 12/18/1925 Five foot two, eyes of blue (Has anybody seen my girl) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 59 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Walker, Esther," accessed October 4, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113903.

Walker, Esther. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 4, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113903.

"Walker, Esther." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 4 October 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113903

External Sources

Wikipedia: Esther Walker

Discogs: Esther Walker

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Walker, Esther, 1894-1943 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008011376

Wikidata: Esther Walker - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5401316

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/39175367

MusicBrainz: Esther Walker - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5306dbc6-e75f-4227-91cc-f32407c1c414

ISNI: 0000 0004 6250 743X - http://www.isni.org/isni/000000046250743X

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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