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 76-100 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-87231 10-in. 1/2/1935 I believe in miracles Hal Davis Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-92533 10-in. 6/27/1935 Murder in the moonlight (It's love in the first degree) Four Towers Orchestra ; Billie Hibberd ; Ray Nichols Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-92774 10-in. 7/26/1935 Nothing lives longer than love Enric Madriguera Orchestra ; Tony Sacco Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-98428 10-in. 12/14/1935 Quicker than you can say Jack Robinson Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio songwriter  
Victor BS-98440 10-in. 12/20/1935 Quicker than you can say Jack Robinson Dolly Dawn and her Dawn Patrol Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-100360 10-in. 4/9/1936 I'm a fool for loving you Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-07423 10-in. 3/1/1937 Red lips Bill Boyd ; Cowboy Ramblers String band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-07771 10-in. 4/12/1937 Yaaka hula hickey dula The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano composer  
Victor BS-07782 10-in. 4/12/1937 Oh! What a pal was Mary The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano composer  
Victor PBS-019301 10-in. 6/1/1938 Don't wake up my heart Elmer Feldkamp ; Freddy Martin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-023506 10-in. 5/28/1938 Don't wake up my heart Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Martha Tilton Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-046842 10-in. 2/6/1940 Take your girlie to the movies Blue Barron ; Ronny Snyder Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor PBS-049977 10-in. 8/5/1940 There's danger in your eyes, chérie! Lou Bring ; Dorothy Lamour Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-068491 10-in. 12/17/1941 On the street of regret Tommy Ryan ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and talk composer  
Victor BS-068676 10-in. 12/18/1941 On the Street of Regret Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor D9VB-2176 10-in. 8/16/1949 The Story of Annie Laurie Ella Logan Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BVE-Test-467 10-in. 1/30/1931 Crying myself to sleep Sylvia Froos Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-Test-1033 10-in. 12/15/1930 Crying myself to sleep Charles ("Chic") Farmer Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor [Trial 1918-08-02-03] Not documented 8/2/1918 I miss that Mississippi miss that misses me Watson Sisters Female vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia 46337 10-in. 1/12/1916 Yaaka, hoola, hickey, doola Al Jolson Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 46829 10-in. 6/13/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Samuel Jospe ; Howard Kopp Piano and drums duet composer  
Columbia 47190 10-in. 11/24/1916 Call of a nation Saxo Sextette Saxophone sextet composer  
Columbia 77136 10-in. 6/12/1917 You're Mamma's baby Nannette Flack Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77322 10-in. 9/10/1917 Waterson hits Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 77333 10-in. 9/13/1917 I'm crazy over every girl in France Avon Comedy Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
(Results 76-100 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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