Enoch Light

Enoch Henry Light (August 18, 1907 – July 31, 1978) was an American classically trained violinist, danceband leader, and recording engineer. As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at least 1940, Light and his band primarily worked in various hotels in New York. For a time in 1928 he also led a band in Paris. In the 1930s Light also studied conducting with the French conductor Maurice Frigara in Paris.

Throughout the 1930s, Light and his outfits were steadily employed in the generally more upscale hotel restaurants and ballrooms in New York that catered to providing polite ambiance for dining and functional dance music of current popular songs rather than out-and-out jazz.

At some point his band was tagged The Light Brigade and they often broadcast over radio live from the Hotel Taft in New York, where they had a long residency. Through 1940, Light and his band recorded for various labels including Brunswick, ARC, Vocalion and Bluebird. In 1955, Light founded Grand Award Records and served as president and A&R chief. In 1959 he founded a subsidiary label, Command Records. Grand Award and its subsidiary labels were sold to ABC-Paramount Records in October 1959. Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 18, 1905 (Canton), Died July 31, 1978 (Connecticut)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, songwriter, vocalist, leader

= 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 BS-81075 10-in. 1/18/1934 Throw another log on the fire Jerry Baker ; Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-81076 10-in. 1/18/1934 You have taken my heart Jerry Baker ; Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-81077 10-in. 1/18/1934 If I didn't care Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-81078 10-in. 1/18/1934 Nothing but the best Jerry Baker ; Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-81079 10-in. 1/18/1934 There was a night on the water Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, vocalist  
Victor BS-81080 10-in. 1/18/1934 When to-morrow comes Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, director  
Victor BAVE-012905 10-in. between 8/10/1939 and 8/18/1939 Mariettina Feliciano Brunelli Orquesta Característica ; Oscar Valetta Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-036576 10-in. 5/1/1939 I paid for the lie I told you Three Reasons ; Dick Todd Male vocal solo, with female vocal trio and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-036981 10-in. 5/25/1939 Begone Phyllis Kenny ; Van Alexander Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-037133 10-in. 5/19/1939 Begone! Bob Allen ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-045986 10-in. 1/24/1940 You're first on Second Avenue Enoch Light Orchestra ; Peggy Mann Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Victor BS-045987 10-in. 1/24/1940 Run, rabbit, run Enoch Light Orchestra ; Bunny O'Dare Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo director  
Victor BS-045988 10-in. 1/24/1940 Tiny old town Enoch Light Orchestra ; George Hines Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Victor BS-045989 10-in. 1/24/1940 Someday you'll find your bluebird Enoch Light Orchestra ; Peggy Mann Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director  
Brunswick E21746-E21747 10-in. 3/5/1927 Mary dear (I miss you most of all) Enoch Light's Blue Jay Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Brunswick E21748-E21749 10-in. 3/5/1927 If you can’t tell the world she’s a good little girl (Just say nothing at all) Enoch Light's Blue Jay Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Light, Enoch," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106882.

Light, Enoch. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106882.

"Light, Enoch." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106882

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