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 101-125 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 77407 10-in. 10/3/1917 Over the top Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 77705 10-in. 3/2/1918 I miss that Mississippi miss that misses me Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78056 10-in. 9/19/1918 Oh, how I wish I could sleep (until my Daddy comes home) Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78396 10-in. 4/17/1919 The music of wedding chimes Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78439 10-in. 5/19/1919 Take your girlie to the movies (If you can't make love at home) Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78505 10-in. 6/18/1919 Down by the meadow brook Columbia Orchestra ; Charles Adams Prince Orchestra composer  
Columbia 78527 10-in. 6/23/1919 Take me to that land of jazz Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78565 10-in. 7/17/1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 78688 10-in. 9/23/1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Columbia Saxophone Sextette ; Grant Stephens [i.e., George Meader] Saxophone sextet, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 79152 10-in. 4/30/1920 In sweet September Al Jolson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 80378 10-in. 6/7/1922 Sleepy little village (where the Dixie cotton grows) Hart Sisters Female vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 80516 10-in. 8/10/1922 Whenever you're lonesome (Just telephone me) Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 80616 10-in. 10/17/1922 He loves it Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 80633 10-in. 11/9/1922 Those star spangled nights in Dixieland Frank Westphal Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia 80637 10-in. 10/30/1922 He loves it Eddie Cantor Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 80832 10-in. 2/2/1923 Maxie Jones (King of the saxophones) Columbians Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 80877 10-in. 2/28/1923 Papa blues James P. Johnson Piano solo composer  
Columbia 37123 12-in. 2/23/1915 Beverly hunt Prince's Band Band composer  
Columbia 49270 12-in. 11/13/1917 Over the top Prince's Band ; G. Hepburn Wilson Band composer  
Columbia 49654 12-in. 7/25/1919 And he'd say oo-la la! Wee-wee Billy Murray ; Yerkes Jazarimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 49693 12-in. 11/11/1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Fred Hughes ; Prince's Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 141981 10-in. 4/19/1926 Blue bonnet, you make me feel blue Irving Kaufman ; Manhattan Dance Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W142134 10-in. 5/3/1926 Blue bonnet—you make me feel blue Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W142209 10-in. 5/15/1926 Scatter your smiles Gangplank Orchestra ; Earl Gresh Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble songwriter  
Columbia 143369 10-in. 1/31/1927 There's everything nice about you The Westerners ; Jack Wilson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
(Results 101-125 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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