J. Will Callahan

J. Will Callahan (March 17, 1874 – November 15, 1946) was an American lyricist. He was also partially blind.

He wrote lyrics for songs including "Gasoline" (1913), "Smiles" (used in The Passing Show of 1918), and more notoriously to modern ears, the 1917 song "Ching Chong".

"Smiles", for which he is best known, became a hit and earned Callahan and composer Lee S. Roberts about $500,000. Callahan's primary collaborator was Max Kortlander.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 17, 1874, Died November 15, 1946

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1914 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 66 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-15019 10-in. 6/29/1914 You planted a rose in the garden of love Charles Harrison Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15198 10-in. 9/18/1914 Diane of the green van Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15212 10-in. 9/23/1914 Wild flowers we gathered long ago Elsie Baker ; Frederick J. Wheeler Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21881 10-in. 6/3/1918 Smiles Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor B-22215 10-in. 8/16/1918 Smiles Maria Morrisey ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet and female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22228 10-in. 9/9/1918 Smiles Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22255 10-in. 9/24/1918 Smiles John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22263 10-in. 9/27/1918 A little birch canoe and you Olive Kline Female vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra (takes 3-5); with mixed vocal quartet (takes 1-2) lyricist  
Victor B-22367 10-in. 1/30/1919 Mammy's lullaby Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Orchestra, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-22599 10-in. 2/25/1919 After all Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22689 10-in. 4/15/1919 When I come home to you Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22904 10-in. 6/5/1919 Tell me Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor B-23160 10-in. 9/17/1919 Tell me Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with violin obbligato and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24359 10-in. 7/29/1920 Drowsy baby Elsie Baker ; Olive Kline Female vocal duet, with violin, bells, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24360 10-in. 7/29/1920 In the afterglow Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30984 10-in. 10/9/1924 Give me one rose to remember Reinald Werrenrath Baritone vocal solo, with violin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-47053 10-in. 9/18/1928 Smiles Jimmy Yates’ Boll Weevils String band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-48181 10-in. 11/19/1928 The gateway of dreams John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor PBVE-54853 10-in. 6/19/1930 Smiles Boyd Senter ; Senterpedes ; Ray Stillwell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor PBS-09633 10-in. 8/2/1937 Smiles Benny Goodman Quartet Jazz/dance quartet lyricist  
Victor BS-022932 10-in. 4/28/1938 The grass is just as green Rose Blane ; Californians ; Abe Lyman Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-028616 10-in. 10/25/1938 Smiles Oklahoma Playboys ; Jimmie Revard String band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-063721 10-in. 4/7/1941 Smiles Larry Clinton Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor D9VB-1229 10-in. 4/1/1949 Smiles Main Street String Band String band, with vocal ensemble lyricist  
Columbia 39356 10-in. 5/8/1914 You planted a rose in the garden of love Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 66 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Callahan, J. Will," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109488.

Callahan, J. Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109488.

"Callahan, J. Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109488

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