Pete Wendling

Pete Wendling (June 6, 1888 – April 7, 1974) was an American composer and pianist, born in New York City to German immigrants.

He started his working life as a carpenter, but gained fame during the mid-1910s as a popular music composer, with his name appearing on the "Soup and Fish Rag" in 1913. He worked on such hits as "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" (recorded by Al Jolson), "Take Me To The Land Of Jazz", "Take Your Girlie To The Movies", "Felix The Cat", and "Oh What A Pal Is Mary".

Wendling was also one of the top pianists of his era, and set a long-standing record when he appeared at the London Hippodrome for eight consecutive weeks. He joined the Rhythmodik Music Roll Company in 1914, and started to record his performances on paper rolls for player pianos. In 1916 he recorded for American Piano Company (Ampico). In 1918, he joined the largest piano roll company, QRS, and rapidly became one of their most popular artists, his distinctive yet always fresh performances constantly topping their best-selling lists. They were still in production as of 2003.

He recorded two sides for Okeh Records in 1923, and in 1926, cut another four for Cameo. In 1927, QRS, who were tightening their belt due to declining sales, released Wendling, and he concentrated on his composing career until his retirement in the 1950s. In 1955, he co-wrote "I Wonder", which became a UK chart hit for both Jane Froman and Dickie Valentine. Wendling's last notable work was "Rich in Love" in 1956.

Married to Anna, he had no children. A resident of Manhattan, he died in New York City in April 1974, aged 85 after several strokes.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6, 1888, Died April 7, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, arranger, piano, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E32747 10-in. May 1930 Dream Avenue Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Brunswick E32851 10-in. June 1930 Dream Avenue Harry Richman Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E33303 10-in. 7/1/1930 Swingin’ in a hammock Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Brunswick E34655 10-in. 10/1/1930 I’ll be blue just thinking of you Chester Gaylord Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E34830 10-in. 10/10/1930 I’ll be blue just thinking of you Chester Gaylord Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E35066 10-in. 11/1/1930 Who’s calling you sweetheart tonight? Ozzie Nelson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E35465 10-in. Nov. 1930 Who’s calling you sweetheart tonight Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Instrumental ensemble, with vocal composer  
Brunswick E35468 10-in. Nov. 1930 Crying myself to sleep! Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Instrumental ensemble, with vocal composer  
Brunswick E36677 10-in. 4/30/1931 Rock me in a cradle of Kalua Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E36683 10-in. 5/5/1931 Rock me in a cradle of Kalua Roy Smeck Vitaphone Trio Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E36920 10-in. 7/10/1931 Give me your affection, honey Californians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E36977 10-in. 7/17/1931 Give me your affection (Honey) Will Osborne and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E37369 10-in. 11/20/1931 By the sycamore tree Art Kahn's Orchestra [Brunswick Studio Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E37438 10-in. 12/1/1931 Yaaka hula hickey dula Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E3030-E3031 10-in. 5/12/1926 Blue bonnet, you make me feel blue Tuxedo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E3714-E3715 10-in. Sept. 1926 Scatter your smiles Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Brunswick E20237-E20238 10-in. 9/24/1926 Scatter your smiles Casa Lopez Orchestra ; Vincent Lopez Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E21407-E21408 10-in. 2/2/1927 Monastery bells (Waltz) Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E21431-E21433 10-in. 2/4/1927 There’s everything nice about you Victor Arden ; Phil Ohman Piano duet, with jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E23252-E23254 10-in. 5/19/1927 Red lips—kiss my blues away Clevelanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E26970-E26972 10-in. 3/14/1928 In the sweet bye and bye Anthony Galla-Rini Accordion solo, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E26972) composer  
Brunswick C5722 10-in. 5/5/1930 What kinda people are you? Freddie Rose Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick C5769 10-in. 6/9/1930 Cherie Milla Dominguez Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick C6121 10-in. Aug. 1930 I’ll be blue, just thinking of you (From now on) Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick C7103 10-in. Dec. 1930 Crying myself to sleep! (Llorando hasta dormir) Ben Bernie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) composer  
(Results 226-250 of 283 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wendling, Pete," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

Wendling, Pete. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

"Wendling, Pete." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775

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