James Brockman

James Brockman (December 8, 1886 – May 22, 1967) was an American songwriter. Born in Russia, he emigrated to New York by himself at the age of 9 or 10. His given name was Jacob Brachman but he changed the spelling of the last name because it was mis-pronounced and the rest of the family followed with the change.

Brockman began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and musicals in the early 1900s. He was a partner, along with James Kendis, of the Kendis-Brockman Music Company.

He wrote the lyrics to Down among the Sheltering Palms with music by composer and Chicago music publisher Abe Olman. Oldman's marketing of the song led to Leo Feist acquiring it and encouraging Al Jolson to perform on stage.

In 1919, he was a co-writer of the song "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", which years later would become the anthem of the English football club West Ham United. Also in 1919, he co-wrote "I'm Like a Ship Without a Sail". He also co-wrote, with Abe Olman, the song "Down Among The Sheltering Palms", published in 1914 and popularized by the Boswell Sisters in the early 1930s.

He went on to work in Hollywood as a songwriter for films, and wrote the score for Happy Days. He died in Santa Monica, California in May 1967, aged 80, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 8, 1886 (Russian Empire), Died May 22, 1967 (Santa Monica)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, composer, lyricist, tenor vocal

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 146 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-6264 10-in. 6/11/1908 My fluff-a de-ruff Ed Morton Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-7091 10-in. 5/18/1909 You can look and you can listen, but M-U-M is the word Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-8179 10-in. 8/26/1909 If I could gain the world by wishing, I would only wish for you Albert Campbell ; Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-9820 10-in. 1/17/1911 That's Yiddisha love Monroe Silver Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-9821 10-in. 1/17/1911 Abie, take an example from your fader Monroe Silver Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-11716 10-in. 3/13/1912 As long as the shamrock grows green Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15924 10-in. 4/21/1915 Down among the sheltering palms Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-16974 12-in. 1/7/1916 Underneath the stars Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-17133 10-in. 2/9/1916 Some beautiful morning (You'll find me gone) Gladys Wilbur Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17331 10-in. 3/17/1916 The kid is clever Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-17451 10-in. 4/5/1916 When Isadore sang Il trovatore Rhoda Bernard Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-18944 10-in. 12/28/1916 In the days of Old Black Joe Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-19142 10-in. 1/30/1917 The ghost of the ukulele Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19606 10-in. 4/18/1917 Underneath the China moon Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-22185 10-in. 7/30/1918 We're bound to win with boys like you Charles Hart ; Shannon Quartet Male vocal solo and vocal chorus songwriter  
Victor B-22218 10-in. 9/3/1918 Where it's peach jam makin' time Geoffrey O'Hara Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-22597 10-in. 2/25/1919 I know what it means to be lonesome Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with violin duet and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23123 10-in. 8/12/1919 Golden gate (Open for me) Charles Hart ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-23147 10-in. 9/10/1919 I am climbing mountains Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with violin duet and orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-23449 10-in. 10/31/1919 I'm like a ship without a sail Charles Hart ; Elliott Shaw Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-23701 10-in. 1/26/1920 Brazilian chimes Crescent Trio Male vocal trio with violin, celeste, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-24556 12-in. 10/28/1920 Grieving for you Ambassador Orchestra ; Paul Whiteman Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-24634 10-in. 10/19/1920 Feather your nest Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell ; Rudy Wiedoeft Male vocal duet, with saxophone and orchestra (takes 4-7); with cello and orchestra (takes 1-3) songwriter  
Victor C-25010 12-in. 3/17/1921 Moonbeams All Star Trio ; All Star Trio Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-25386 10-in. 7/7/1921 Sunnyside Sal Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 146 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brockman, James," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

Brockman, James. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540

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