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

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  
Brunswick E17133-E17135 10-in. 12/18/1925 I love my baby (My baby loves me) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17145-E17147 10-in. 12/19/1925 I want somebody to cheer me up Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17148-E17152 10-in. 12/19/1925 What did I tell ya? Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17154-E17155 10-in. 12/19/1925 I love my baby (My baby loves me) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17300-E17302 10-in. 12/30/1925 I love my baby Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17303-E17305 10-in. 12/30/1925 I want somebody to cheer me up Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17306-E17308 10-in. 12/30/1925 Five foot two, eyes of blue Rube Bloom ; Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17309-E17311 10-in. 12/30/1925 What did I tell ya? Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17985-E17987 10-in. 2/15/1926 I’m in love with you, that’s why Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17995-E17997 10-in. 2/16/1926 Poor Papa (He's got nuthin' at all) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18007-E18009 10-in. 2/16/1926 Tentin’ down in Tennessee Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, ukulele, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18010-E18012 10-in. 2/16/1926 What a man! Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, ukulele, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18019-E18021 10-in. 2/19/1926 I’m lonely without you Ed Smalle ; Paul Sterrett ; Esther Walker Female-male vocal duet, with ukulele and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18022-E18025 10-in. 2/19/1926 As long as I have you and you have me Ed Smalle ; Paul Sterrett ; Esther Walker Female-male vocal duet, with ukulele and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18037-E18039 10-in. 2/20/1926 Poor Papa Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19492-E19494 10-in. 6/7/1926 Hard-to-get Gertie Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19501-E19503 10-in. 6/7/1926 Ya gotta know how to love Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19507-E19509 10-in. 6/8/1926 Hard-to-get Gertie Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19510-E19512 10-in. 6/8/1926 Brighten my days Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19513-E19515 10-in. 6/8/1926 I don’t want nobody but you Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19540-E19543 10-in. 6/11/1926 What did I do? Ed Smalle ; Esther Walker Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E19544-E19546 10-in. 6/11/1926 All I want to do (Is to be with you) Ed Smalle ; Esther Walker Female-male vocal duet, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick [E20330-E20331a] 10/5/1926 [No titles shown] Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick [E20358-E20359a] 10/6/1926 [Unknown selections] Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E20366-E20367 10-in. 10/7/1926 Don’t be angry with me Esther Walker Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E20374-E20375 10-in. 10/8/1926 It made you happy when you made me cry Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E20382-E20383 10-in. 10/11/1926 All alone Monday Esther Walker Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E20386-E20388 10-in. 10/13/1926 Whisper—Sh! Esther Walker Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E20389-E20390 10-in. 10/13/1926 All alone Monday Esther Walker Female vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24561-E24564 10-in. 9/27/1927 Good news Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24565-E24568 10-in. 9/27/1927 I left my sugar standing in the rain (And she melted away) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24596-E24598 10-in. 9/29/1927 After I‘ve called you sweetheart (How can I call you friend?) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24599-E24601 10-in. 9/29/1927 I ain’t that kind of a baby! Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E17320-E17322 10-in. 12/31/1925 What did I tell ya? Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Walker, Esther," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113903.

Walker, Esther. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113903.

"Walker, Esther." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

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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