Billy Murray (25 May 1877 - 17 August 1954) was one of the most popular sin… Read Full Bio ↴Billy Murray (25 May 1877 - 17 August 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. While he received star billings on Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era. He was probably the best selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century.
He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation's major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, the Haydn Quartet, the Premier Quartet, and the American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
While he often performed romantic numbers and ballads which sold well at the time, his comedy and novelty song recordings continue to be popular with later generations of record collectors.
Murray's popularity faded with changes in public taste and recording technology; the rise of the electric microphone in the mid 1920s coincided with the rise of the crooners. His "hammering" style, as he called it, essentially yelling the song into the recording horn, did not work in the electronic era, and it took him some time to learn how to soften his voice. While he continued to work, his singing style was considered "dated" and less in demand. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he also did voices for animated cartoons, especially the "follow the bouncing ball" type which incorporated songs from his salad days. He also did radio work.
Murray made his last recordings in 1943 and retired to Freeport, Long Island, New York in 1944. He died in nearby Jones Beach.
He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation's major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, the Haydn Quartet, the Premier Quartet, and the American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
While he often performed romantic numbers and ballads which sold well at the time, his comedy and novelty song recordings continue to be popular with later generations of record collectors.
Murray's popularity faded with changes in public taste and recording technology; the rise of the electric microphone in the mid 1920s coincided with the rise of the crooners. His "hammering" style, as he called it, essentially yelling the song into the recording horn, did not work in the electronic era, and it took him some time to learn how to soften his voice. While he continued to work, his singing style was considered "dated" and less in demand. In the late 1920s and early 1930s he also did voices for animated cartoons, especially the "follow the bouncing ball" type which incorporated songs from his salad days. He also did radio work.
Murray made his last recordings in 1943 and retired to Freeport, Long Island, New York in 1944. He died in nearby Jones Beach.
Oh Baby What a Night
Billy Murray Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Billy Murray:
Alexander's ragtime band Oh ma honey, oh ma honey, Better hurry and let's meander. …
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon Place, park, scene, dark Silvery moon is shining through the…
Come Josephine in My Flying Machine Oh! Say! Let us fly, dear Where, kid? To the sky,…
Don't Bring Lulu Your presence is requested, wrote little Johnny White, But w…
Grand Old Rag There's a feeling comes a-stealing, And it sets my brain…
I Love A Piano As a child I went wild When a band played How I ran To…
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now? You have loved lots of girls in the sweet long…
I'Ll See You In C VERSE ONE: Not So Far From Here There's a very lively atmosp…
I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover I'm looking over a four-leaf clover I overlooked before On…
In My Merry Oldsmobile Young Johnny Steele has an Oldsmobile He loves his dear litt…
I`ll See You In C-U-B-A VERSE ONE: Not So Far From Here There's a very lively atmosp…
K-K-K-Katy (Stammering Song) Jimmy was a soldier brave and bold, Katy was a maid…
Oh You Beautiful Doll Honey dear, want you near, Just turn out the lights and…
Pretty Baby You ask me why I'm always teasing you. You hate to…
Stumbling 'Tention folks, speak of jokes This is one on me Took my…
That Old Gang of Mine I've got a longing way down in my heart For that…
The Cubanola Glide Way down in Cuba where skies are clear Where it is…
The Further It Is From Tipperary The tommies in the trenches seem to have one favorite…
The Grand Old Rag There's a feeling comes a-stealing, And it sets my brain a-…
The Yankee Doodle Boy I'm the kid that's all the candy, I'm a Yankee Doodle…
They Were All Out of Step But Jim Jimmy's mother went to see her son Marching along on parade …
You're A Grand Old Flag You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag And forev…
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@Trombonology
Love the harmonizing and the banter -- very cute!
@pax41
I released the 1930s set from the 4th of July show today. Let me know what you think Elizabeth.
@VictrolaJazz
Oh baby, what a nice arrangement with two vocalists! Great accompaniment, too! Like the vintage photos too!
@pax41
Glad you liked it Ed. Just in case you didn't see it, here is the new release today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK1ptivCCjM This was the 1930s portion of the Live Stream show on the 4th of July that got released today.
@VictrolaJazz
Thanks, Bob!
@neilgoloy3582
This particular song has some funny things in it ...Lol! Thanks Bob! :-)
@pax41
It does Neil😊 Here is the new post from today, hope you like it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK1ptivCCjM
@1920sfan1
Most delightful! Real fun :-)
@larryhagemann5548
Love those Biblical gowns!
@pax41
I agree, that line was funny.