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Paul A. Rubens

Paul Alfred Rubens (29 April 1875 – 5 February 1917) was an English songwriter and librettist who wrote some of the most popular Edwardian musical comedies of the early twentieth century. He contributed to the success of dozens of musicals.

Born in Kensington, London, he attended Winchester College before studying law at University College, Oxford. He began writing songs for shows at the age of 10 and had his first major success with "The Little Chinchilla" for the hit musical The Shop Girl when he was 19 years old. This was soon followed by songs for, among others, the hit musical San Toy. In 1899, he wrote songs for the international hit Florodora, which brought him wider fame. Producer George Edwardes hired him as an "additional material" writer for, among others, The Messenger Boy (1900), The Toreador (1901), A Country Girl (1902), The Girl from Kays (1902), The School Girl (1903), The Cingalee (1904) and The Blue Moon (1905), writing some of the most successful songs in these shows. He composed the hit musical Miss Hook of Holland (1907).

Later compositions include The Balkan Princess (1910), The Sunshine Girl (1912), The Girl from Utah (1913), Tonight's the Night (1914), Betty (1915) and The Happy Day (1916). Rubens began a relationship with the actress Phyllis Dare during this period, but they soon parted due to Rubens' severe consumptive illness, from which he suffered for the rest of his life. As a result, he retired to Cornwall and died of tuberculosis, aged 41.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 29, 1875 (London), Died February 5, 1917 (Falmouth)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1903 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 63 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2161 10-in. 4/3/1903 Three little maids selections Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2161 7-in. 4/3/1903 Three little maids selections Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-422 10-in. 9/16/1903 The miller's daughter Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor A-422 7-in. 9/16/1903 The miller's daughter Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor B-482 10-in. 10/2/1903 The miller's daughter Mina Hickman Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor A-482 7-in. 10/2/1903 The miller's daughter Mina Hickman Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor B-4541 10-in. 5/29/1907 In Venice Alice J. Shaw Whistling solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-4593 10-in. 6/17/1907 I love you, ma cherie Henri Leoni Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-8665 10-in. 2/28/1910 The sweep's intermezzo Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-10003 10-in. 2/24/1911 Dear delightful women Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor C-10033 12-in. 3/7/1911 Gems from The Balkan princess Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor C-10621 12-in. 6/27/1911 Gems from The country girl Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12981 10-in. 3/11/1913 Sunshine girl tango Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor C-13775 12-in. 9/12/1913 Gems from The sunshine girl Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-15307 10-in. 10/27/1914 Your king and country want you Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor C-15760 12-in. 3/4/1915 To-night's the night Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-24696 10-in. 11/18/1920 In Venice Margaret McKee Whistling solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-53979 10-in. 8/7/1929 I love the moon Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 1113 7-in. ca. 1903-Oct. 1905 Everybody's awfully good to me Edward M. Favor Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 1113 10-in. ca. 1903 Everybody's awfully good to me Edward M. Favor Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 1143 10-in. ca. 1903-1908 The coo song George Alexander Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1143 7-in. ca. 1903 The coo song George Alexander Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1586 10-in. ca. 1903 Three little maids : Selections Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1586 7-in. ca. 1903-Oct. 1905 Three little maids : Selections Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1591 10-in. ca. 1903 The miller's daughter J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 63 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rubens, Paul A.," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031.

Rubens, Paul A.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031.

"Rubens, Paul A.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104031

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