Billy Mayerl

William Joseph Mayerl (31 May 1902 – 25 March 1959) was an English pianist and composer who built a career in music hall and musical theatre and became an acknowledged master of light music. Best known for his syncopated novelty piano solos, he wrote over 300 piano pieces, many of which were named after flowers and trees, including his best-known composition, Marigold (1927). He also ran the successful School of Syncopation for whose members he published hundreds of his own arrangements of popular songs.

He also composed works for piano and orchestra, often in suites with evocative names such as the 'Aquarium Suite' (1937), comprising "Willow Moss", "Moorish Idol", "Fantail", and "Whirligig".

Birth and Death Data: Born May 31, 1902 (Fitzrovia), Died March 25, 1959 (Beaconsfield)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, conductor

= 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-31416 10-in. 11/17/1924 Southern rose Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-Test-153 10-in. 6/4/1928 Georgie Porgie Rudy Vallée Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia W146543 10-in. 6/17/1928 Georgie Porgie Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
Columbia 146614 10-in. 7/2/1928 Georgie Porgie Frank Bessinger ; Lou Gold Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh S-72952 10-in. 11/3/1924 Southern rose Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27693 10-in. 6/12/1928 Georgie Porgie Arnold Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) songwriter  
Brunswick E27847 10-in. 7/12/1928 Georgie Porgie Arnold Johnson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) songwriter  
Brunswick E32599 10-in. Apr. 1930 It must be you Tom Clines and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick DB65 10-in. 10/6/1928 Marigold W. Harris Piano solo composer  
Brunswick DB65 10-in. 9/25/1928 Marigold W. Harris Piano solo composer  
Brunswick DB82 10-in. 10/6/1928 Puppets [suite] no. 3 : Punch W. Harris Piano solo composer  
Brunswick DB84 10-in. 10/6/1928 Puppets [suite] no. 1 : Golliwog W. Harris Piano solo composer  
Edison 9854 10-in. 11/18/1924 Southern rose Golden Gate Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18556 10-in. 6/1/1928 Georgie Porgie Palais D'Or Orchestra ; B. A. Rolfe Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX4309 12-in. between October and December 1928 Sennen cove Court Symphony Orchestra [U.K.] ; Billy Mayerl Orchestra composer, conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX4310 12-in. between October and December 1928 Sennen cove Court Symphony Orchestra [U.K.] ; Billy Mayerl Orchestra conductor, composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL1268 10-in. 10/15/1928 Sweetie on the radio Fernand Gravey ; Georges van Parys Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mayerl, Billy," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102998.

Mayerl, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102998.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102998

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