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Willard Robison

Willard Robison (September 18, 1894 – June 24, 1968) was an American vocalist, pianist, and composer of popular songs, born in Shelbina, Missouri. His songs reflect a rural, melancholy theme steeped in Americana and their warm style has drawn comparison to Hoagy Carmichael. Many of his compositions, notably "A Cottage for Sale", "Round My Old Deserted Farm", "Don't Smoke in Bed", "'Taint So, Honey, 'Taint So" and "Old Folks", have become standards and have been recorded countless times by jazz and pop artists including Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Bing Crosby and Mildred Bailey. "A Cottage for Sale" alone has been recorded over 100 times.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 18, 1894 (Shelbina), Died June 24, 1968 (Peekskill)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, baritone vocal, lyricist, piano, songwriter, leader, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 119 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-51680 10-in. 5/2/1929 Wake up! Chillun, wake up The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-51926 10-in. 4/26/1929 Wake up, chillun, wake up Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-51927 10-in. 4/26/1929 The lonesome road Willard Robison ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-53423 10-in. 5/21/1929 Ploddin' along The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-57177 10-in. 11/27/1929 There's religion in rhythm Willard Robison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-57178 10-in. 11/27/1929 Don't ever be 'fraid to wade those troubled waters Willard Robison Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-58536 10-in. 1/30/1930 A cottage for sale The Revelers Male vocal quartet, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-59623 10-in. 3/10/1930 A cottage for sale Bernie Cummins ; Walter Cummins ; New Yorker Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-77206 10-in. 12/5/1933 Tain't so Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio and vocal ensemble lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-95027 10-in. 9/13/1935 Barrel-house music Ramona and Her Gang Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-027108 10-in. 9/14/1938 Old folks Arthur Godfrey ; Johnny Salb Male vocal solo, with electric organ composer  
Victor BS-038049 10-in. 8/24/1939 Crying in my dreams (For you) Bob Allen ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-049688 10-in. 5/13/1940 Now we know Artie Shaw Orchestra ; Martha Tilton Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-051533 10-in. 6/19/1940 Peaceful Valley Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor E0VB-3387 10-in. 3/6/1950 An empty promise Dolph Hewitt Male vocal solo, with string band composer  
Victor D5VB-0599 10-in. 9/11/1945 Never too late to pray Stuart Foster ; Sentimentalists ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D5AB-0683 10-in. 10/15/1945 Candlelight and roses (Billy Hill's last song) Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor D7VB-1830 10-in. 10/28/1947 Where'd dat money go? Page Cavanaugh Trio Vocal trio, with guitar, piano, and string bass composer  
Victor D9VB-0195 10-in. 2/9/1949 Missouri walking preacher (with a little book in his hand) Ray McKinley Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor [Trial 1926-03-18-05] 10-in. 3/18/1926 Deep river blues Willard Robison Male vocal solo, with piano (self-accompaniment) vocalist, baritone vocal, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Trial 1926-04-15-02] 10-in. 4/15/1926 Broken rhythm Willard Robison Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Trial 1926-04-15-03] 10-in. 4/15/1926 Out of the south Willard Robison Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Victor [Trial 1926-09-14-06] 10-in. 9/14/1926 Peaceful valley Chester Giddings Male vocal solo, with banjo composer  
Columbia W140728 10-in. 6/26/1925 Page Mr. Handy Art Gillham Male vocal solo, with guitar composer, lyricist  
Columbia W140759 10-in. 7/14/1925 Deep elm Little Ramblers Jazz/dance band composer  
(Results 26-50 of 119 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robison, Willard," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106316.

Robison, Willard. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106316.

"Robison, Willard." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106316

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