James V. Kern
James V. Kern (September 22, 1909, New York City, New York – November 9, 1966, Encino, California) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor (with the Yacht Club Boys), and became a screenwriter and director. He studied for six years at the Fordham Law School before opening his own practice, which lasted for two years. He sang with the George Olsen Trio, and appeared with the Olsen orchestra in the musical Good News. |
Birth and Death Data: Born New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died November 9, 1966 (Encino (neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1940
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist
Notes: Used name Jimmie Kern early in his career.
= 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-043365 | 10-in. | 11/7/1939 | The little red fox (N'ya, n'ya ya can't catch me) | Hal Kemp Orchestra ; Smoothies | Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal ensemble | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-046420 | 10-in. | 1/12/1940 | The little red fox | Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle ; Three Blue Notes | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio | lyricist | |
| Columbia | W152688 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | Sing Sing isn't prison any more | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
| Columbia | W152689 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | The great American tourist | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
| Columbia | W152690 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | We own a salon | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
| Columbia | W152691 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | The super-special picture of the year | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E28256 | 10-in. | 9/18/1928 | Do you? That’s all I want to know! | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Brunswick | E28257 | 10-in. | 9/18/1928 | I love that girl | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Brunswick | E29016 | 10-in. | 1/3/1929 | The Monte Carlo song | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Brunswick | E29017 | 10-in. | 1/3/1929 | I’m wild about horns on automobiles that go ta-ta-ta-ta | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
| Brunswick | E31460 | 10-in. | Nov. 1929 | Shut the door (They're coming through the window) | Billy Murray ; Walter Scanlan | Male vocal duet | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | XE31655 | 12-in. | Dec. 1929 | Brunswick brevities program U, pt. 5 | Billy Murray ; Walter Scanlan | Radio transcription disc : Male vocal duet | songwriter |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kern, James V.," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105686.
Kern, James V.. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105686.
"Kern, James V.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Kern, James V., 1909-1966 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87847745
Wikidata: James V. Kern - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2400077
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