Chas. A. Zimmermann

Charles A. Zimmermann (1861 – January 16, 1916) was an American composer of marches and popular music. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, he was appointed bandmaster at the United States Naval Academy in 1887 at the age of 26. Zimmermann served as the academy's bandmaster until his death from a brain hemorrhage in 1916. Zimmermann is buried at the Naval Academy cemetery.

Zimmermann composed his most famous march, "Anchors Aweigh", in 1906 when he was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. The lyrics were written by Alfred Hart Miles, a midshipman. The march was intended from the beginning to serve as a rousing tune for football games. The familiar strain is actually the trio of the larger work. Zimmermann also composed numerous songs for the 1902 stage play The Wizard of Oz.

Birth and Death Data: Died January 16, 1916

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1906 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

Notes: Name appears in sources as Chas. A. Zimmerman, Chas. A. Zimmermann, and Charles A. Zimmermann.

= 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-9647 10-in. 11/15/1910 A little story Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-25572 10-in. 9/26/1921 Anchors aweigh United States Marine Band Band composer  
Victor BVE-41968 10-in. 2/29/1928 Anchors aweigh Charles Benter ; United States Navy Band Band composer  
Victor BVE-62214 10-in. 5/1/1930 Anchors aweigh High Hatters ; Leonard W. Joy Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Victor BAVE-74260 10-in. 8/2/1933 La marcha de los marinos Orquesta Típica Osvaldo Fresedo Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BS-026818 10-in. 9/7/1938 Anchors aweigh Goldman Band Band composer  
Victor PBS-061215 10-in. 4/30/1941 Anchors aweigh Ozzie Nelson Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-071941 10-in. 2/19/1942 Anchors aweigh Four Clubmen ; Leonard W. Joy ; Victor Military Band Band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Columbia 3357 10-in. between 1905 and March 1906 Sitting Bull Frank Williams Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77661 10-in. 2/2/1918 Anchor's aweigh Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 79235 10-in. 6/9/1920 Anchors aweigh U.S. Naval Academy Band Band composer  
Columbia 48518 12-in. 12/18/1915 Anchors aweigh march Prince's Band ; G. Hepburn Wilson Band composer  
Columbia W146467 10-in. 6/20/1928 Anchors aweigh Vic Meyers Hotel Butler Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W148748 10-in. 6/21/1929 Anchors aweigh Columbia Band Band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Columbia W150393 10-in. 5/6/1930 Anchors aweigh Paul Tremaine Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer  
Columbia [W]150453 10-in. 4/10/1930 Anchors aweigh Lloyd Keating and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble composer  
OKeh 9174 10-in. June 1925 Anchors aweigh U.S. Naval Academy Band Band composer  
OKeh W404016 10-in. 5/14/1930 Anchors aweigh Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
OKeh W490071 10-in. 5/14/1930 Anchors aweigh Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick LAE779 10-in. 5/5/1930 Anchors aweigh (The song of the Navy) Jesse Stafford Palace Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal quintet; without vocal (take G) composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CA16796 10-in. between October 1937 and January 1938 Anchors aweigh Band of the Grenadier Guards [U.K] ; George Miller Band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Zimmermann, Chas. A.," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104167.

Zimmermann, Chas. A.. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104167.

"Zimmermann, Chas. A.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104167

External Sources

Wikipedia: Charles A. Zimmerman

Discogs: Chas. A. Zimmermann

IMSLP: Chas. A. Zimmermann

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Zimmermann, Chas. A. (Charles A.), 1862-1916 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83047041

Wikidata: Charles A. Zimmerman - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2786096

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/87258319

MusicBrainz: Charles A. Zimmerman - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ee12a141-9bd0-4d32-ae99-ca25d85f762e

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/111093 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/111093

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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