Albert Gamse
Albert Gamse (pronounced Gams-ee) (1901 – 1974) was an American lyricist. Albert Gamse was born in Latvia to a Jewish family and later emigrated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, NY, where he spent most of his life. In 1953, he moved into the basement apartment of a two-family house on Corsa Avenue, owned by his first cousin, Lydia Heymanson Flax. After Lydia's husband, William, died unexpectedly in 1953, Albert moved in to help support Lydia, her five children, and her sister, Rebecca "Joan" Heymanson. Lydia's children affectionately called him "Uncle Albert." Known for his brilliance, kindness, and generosity, Albert, who never married, was a devoted New York Times crossword enthusiast, solving the puzzles regularly. Gamse was a lyricist for songs that were sung by Dinah Shore, Desi Arnaz and Xavier Cugat, among others. Gamse wrote lyrics for the Presidential Anthem of the United States, "Hail to the Chief". |
Birth and Death Data: Born (Tukums (city in Latvia)), Died 1974
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1955
Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, arranger, composer
= 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-051569 | 10-in. | 6/26/1940 | The rhumba cardi | Dinah Shore ; Xavier Cugat Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | songwriter | |
| Victor | BS-060462 | 10-in. | 2/3/1941 | Amapola | Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye ; Arthur Wright | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-060623 | 10-in. | 2/5/1941 | Las chiapanecas (While there's music there's romance) | Yvette | Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
| Victor | PBS-061249 | 10-in. | 5/13/1941 | Amapola | Lou Bring ; Allan Jones ; Victor Concert Orchestra | Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-065235 | 10-in. | 5/8/1941 | For want of a star | Tommy Ryan ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | arranger | |
| Victor | BS-067629 | 10-in. | 8/11/1941 | From one love to another | Ray Eberle ; Glenn Miller Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-067733 | 10-in. | 9/2/1941 | Something new | Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-067973 | 10-in. | 10/6/1941 | Something new | Joan Merrill | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-068378 | 10-in. | 12/1/1941 | So it goes | Dawn Patrol Boys ; Dolly Dawn | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-068642 | 10-in. | 12/15/1941 | Ages ago | Tito Guizar | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-073733 | 10-in. | 3/20/1942 | Do the Dubonnet | Enric Madriguera Orchestra ; Patricia Gilmore | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Victor | E4LB-3675 | 10-in. | 3/4/1954 | Hot dog she's mine | Buddy Jayson | songwriter | ||
| Victor | E4LB-3676 | 10-in. | 3/4/1954 | Tell you what I'm gonna do | Buddy Jayson | songwriter | ||
| Victor | F4PB-7043 | 10-in. | approximately 1955 | Evening bells | Bill Kenny | Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
| Victor | D6VB-3118 | 10-in. | 10/19/1946 | Managua, Nicaragua | Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Stuart Wade | Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | D7VB-0496 | 10-in. | 4/17/1947 | Lolita Lopez (the belle of El Salvador) | Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Freddy Martin | Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | D7VB-0903 | 10-in. | 5/26/1947 | The goofy gal from Tegucigalpa | Three Suns | Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet | lyricist | |
| Victor | D7VB-1498 | 10-in. | 8/8/1947 | On the Santa Claus express | Freddy Martin Orchestra ; Martin Men ; Stuart Wade | Male vocal solo, with male vocal group and instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Victor | D7FB-2504 | 10-in. | 11/26/1947 | Helen | Continental Capers ; Henri René Musette Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble, with vocal ensemble | songwriter | |
| Victor | D7VB-2769 | 10-in. | 12/29/1947 | In Santiago, Chile ('tain't chilly at all) | Desi Arnaz ; Desi Arnaz Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | D7VB-2772 | 10-in. | 12/29/1947 | Rumba rumbero | Desi Arnaz ; Desi Arnaz Orchestra | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | lyricist | |
| Victor | D9VB-0220 | 10-in. | 3/2/1949 | Walter Thornton rumba | Jose y su orquesta Morand | Instrumental ensemble | lyricist | |
| Columbia | HCO3094 | 10-in. | 12/30/1947 | In Santiago, Chile | Xavier Cugat ; Bob Graham ; Xavier Cugat Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Columbia | HCO3096 | 10-in. | 12/30/1947 | Take it away | Xavier Cugat ; Penny Piper ; Xavier Cugat Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | lyricist | |
| Brunswick | E25056-E25057 | 10-in. | 11/4/1927 | Amapola | Grace Narciso ; Tito Vuolo | Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra | lyricist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gamse, Albert," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116805.
Gamse, Albert. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116805.
"Gamse, Albert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Gamse, Albert - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr98041247
Wikidata: Albert Gamse - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4710285
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/12222766
MusicBrainz: Albert Gamse - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/f258af8a-6881-4267-b383-715599a60a67
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