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Dick Robertson

Dick Robertson (New York City, July 3, 1903 – 1979) was an American popular big band singer and songwriter of the 1930s and 1940s. He sang for many bandleaders such as Leo Reisman and Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra, and was on the artist roster at Banner Records. In fact, he was one of the most prolific New York based vocalists (along with Irving Kaufman, Chick Bullock, Scrappy Lambert, Elmer Feldkamp, Paul Small and Smith Ballew) on scores of records from late 1928 through the mid 1930s. A series of records issued on Melotone/Perfect/Banner/Oriole/Romeo, Crown, Bluebird from 1930-1934 were issued under his name or are listed in the 2010 edition of "American Dance Bands on Record and Film (1915-1942)" by Richard J. Johnson and Bernard H. Shirley as being under his nominal leadership. His last recording session as a singer was in 1949. He also used the pseudonym Bob Richardson for some recordings on Mayfair Records.

As a songwriter his biggest hit was "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" in 1940. The Sinatra version of the song was re-released on The Song Is You (album) and again on Frank Sinatra & the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1

Birth and Death Data: Born July 3, 1903 (New York City), Died 1979

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, leader, songwriter, vocalist, speaker, lyricist, arranger, composer

Notes: Sometimes billed as "The Radio Jester."

See Also: Donaldson Quartet

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 895 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-49220 10-in. 12/3/1928 Then came the dawn Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-49932 10-in. 2/7/1929 I'm thirsty for kisses, hungry for love Dick Robertson ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-49989 10-in. 2/23/1929 Wedding bells (Are breaking up that old gang of mine) Gene Austin ; Dick Robertson ; Ed Smalle Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-50901 10-in. 2/28/1929 Something to live for Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-50902 10-in. 2/28/1929 You're perfect! Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-50919 10-in. 3/7/1929 Don't do that to the poor puss-cat Dick Robertson ; Ed Smalle Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-63360 10-in. 10/2/1930 Hittin' the bottle Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-63361 10-in. 10/2/1930 That Lindy hop Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-63362 10-in. 10/2/1930 You're lucky to me Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-63363 10-in. 10/2/1930 Memories of you Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-64378 10-in. 11/26/1930 What good am I without you? Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-64623 10-in. 11/18/1930 That's where the South begins Red Nichols and his Big Ten ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-64624 10-in. 11/18/1930 I'm tickled pink with a blue-eyed baby Red Nichols and his Big Ten ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-67489 10-in. 3/5/1931 One little hour with you Irving Mills Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
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 vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-69683 10-in. 6/3/1931 Thumpin' 'n' bumpin' Eubie Blake’s Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-69684 10-in. 6/3/1931 Little girl Eubie Blake’s Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-69685 10-in. 6/3/1931 My blue days blew over (When you came back to me) Eubie Blake’s Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-69910 10-in. 11/25/1931 Home Peter Van Steeden Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70140 10-in. 7/31/1931 Oh, it looks like rain Connie’s Inn Orchestra ; Fletcher Henderson ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70141 10-in. 7/31/1931 Sweet music Connie’s Inn Orchestra ; Fletcher Henderson ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70142 10-in. 7/31/1931 My sweet tooth says I wanna Connie’s Inn Orchestra ; Fletcher Henderson ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70143 10-in. 7/31/1931 Malinda's weddin' day Connie’s Inn Orchestra ; Fletcher Henderson ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70187 10-in. 8/27/1931 Waiting for the moon Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BRC-70188 10-in. 8/27/1931 Red-headed baby Gene Kardos Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 895 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robertson, Dick," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107135.

Robertson, Dick. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107135.

"Robertson, Dick." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107135

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