Billy Murray

Billy Murray

William Thomas Murray (May 25, 1877 – August 17, 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early 20th century. While he received star billing in Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era. Murray was the best-selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century, selling over 300 million records during the phonograph era.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 25, 1877 (Philadelphia), Died August 17, 1954 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1901 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, speaker, performer, sound effects, whistling, vocalist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 776-800 of 1789 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	B-22286	10-in.	10/18/1918	Would you rather be a colonel with an eagle on your shoulder, or a private with a chicken on your knee?	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22289	10-in.	10/23/1918	When Tony goes over the top	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	C-22390	12-in.	2/27/1919	Chong	Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22442	10-in.	12/2/1918	The worst is yet to come	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22443	10-in.	12/2/1918	Can you tame wild wimmen?	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22561	10-in.	1/27/1919	The alcoholic blues	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22562	10-in.	1/27/1919	My Barney lies over the ocean (Just the way he lied to me)	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22588	10-in.	2/14/1919	How are you goin' to wet your whistle?	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22665	10-in.	3/31/1919	Lullaby blues (In the evening)	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22666	10-in.	3/31/1919	Anything is nice if it comes from Dixieland	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-22896	10-in.	6/9/1919	Jazzola	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23019	10-in.	6/19/1919	I ain't 'en got 'en no time to have the blues	Billy Murray ; Ed Smalle	Male vocal duet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23020	10-in.	6/19/1919	Take your girlie to the movies (If you can't make love at home)	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23066	10-in.	7/14/1919	Dixie is Dixie once more	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23067	10-in.	7/14/1919	Breeze (Blow my baby back to me)	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with oboe, bassoon, and orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23068	10-in.	7/14/1919	And he'd say oo-la-la! Wee-wee	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23069	10-in.	7/14/1919	Train time at Pun'kin Centre	Cal Stewart	Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23092	10-in.	7/25/1919	I've got my captain working for me now	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23135	10-in.	9/5/1919	Uncle Josh's birthday	American Quartet ; Ada Jones ; Cal Stewart	Descriptive scene, with female vocalist, male vocal quartet, and orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23136	10-in.	9/5/1919	Whoa January (You're going to be worse than July)	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23137	10-in.	9/5/1919	Alexander's band is back in Dixieland	American Quartet ; Billy Murray	Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23413	10-in.	10/15/1919	Floatin' down to Cotton Town	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23414	10-in.	10/15/1919	Poor little Butterfly is a fly gal now	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23427	10-in.	10/21/1919	Wait till you get them up in the air, boys	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	B-23428	10-in.	10/21/1919	Poor little Butterfly is a fly girl now	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal

(Results 776-800 of 1789 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Murray, Billy," accessed October 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106525.

Murray, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106525.

"Murray, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 October 2024.