E. Ray Goetz

Edward Ray Goetz (June 12, 1886 – June 12, 1954) was an American composer, lyricist, playwright, theatre director, and theatrical producer. A Tin Pan Alley songwriter, he published more than 500 songs during his career, many of them originally written for the New York stage. His songs were recorded by several artists, including Judy Garland, Al Jolson, and Blossom Seeley. He was active as both a lyricist and composer for Broadway musicals from 1906 through to 1930, collaborating with artists like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Sigmund Romberg, and A. Baldwin Sloane to create material for the theatre.

Beginning with the musical Hitchy-Koo of 1917, he produced several of the musicals and plays he was creatively involved in up until the 1930-1931 Broadway season, when he produced his final stage work, Porter's The New Yorkers, for which he created the story and served as director. He authored the play The Lady of the Orchids which he produced on Broadway in 1928. He produced and served as production supervisor of Herbert Fields and Porter's 1929 musical Fifty Million Frenchmen which was adapted by Warner Brothers into a 1930 film of the same name.

His work as a songwriter was featured in the films For Me and My Gal (1942), Somebody Loves Me (1952), and The Greatest Show On Earth (1952), the latter of which resulted from his work as the lyricist for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus during the final three years of his life. Having never stopped working, he died in 1954.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 12, 1886 (Buffalo), Died June 12, 1954

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1906 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 100 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-4378 10-in. 4/8/1907 He goes to church on Sunday Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6353 10-in. 8/18/1908 When Grandma was a girl Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6710 10-in. 1/11/1909 The Yankiana rag Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-8073 10-in. 6/24/1909 The billiken man Blanche Ring Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-9091 12-in. 6/15/1910 What good is water when you're dry? Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9160 10-in. 7/7/1910 That dreamy barcarolle tune Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-9945 10-in. 2/10/1911 I love it American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10177 10-in. 4/13/1911 Toddling the todalo Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10226 10-in. 4/25/1911 June Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10369 10-in. 5/23/1911 Missouri Joe Arthur Collins Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-11060 10-in. 10/6/1911 There's a girl in Havana Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11136 10-in. 10/25/1911 In the shadows Helen Clark ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11408 10-in. 12/22/1911 Take me back to the garden of love Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11585 10-in. 2/12/1912 Alexander's bagpipe band Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11809 10-in. 4/1/1912 Lead me to that beautiful band Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12126 10-in. 6/20/1912 Fiddle-dee-dee Maurice Burkhart ; Walter Van Brunt Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12323 10-in. 9/3/1912 The million dollar ball Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12364 10-in. 9/12/1912 Rose of pyramid land Helen Clark ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12365 10-in. 9/13/1912 Where the Edelweiss is blooming Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13514 10-in. 7/3/1913 In my garden of Eden for two Marguerite Dunlap ; Harry Macdonough Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-15022 10-in. 6/29/1914 My croony melody Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor C-15049 12-in. 7/9/1914 Broadway favorites Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-15064 10-in. 7/15/1914 My croony melody Victor Military Band Band songwriter  
Victor B-15608 10-in. 1/19/1915 Watch your step Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-16464 10-in. 9/8/1915 I'm simply crazy over you Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 100 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Goetz, E. Ray," accessed April 16, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

Goetz, E. Ray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

"Goetz, E. Ray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 16 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567

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