Morton Downey

Morton Downey

Sean Morton Downey (November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985), also known as Morton Downey Sr., was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Downey was nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale".

Birth and Death Data: Born November 14, 1901 (Wallingford), Died October 25, 1985 (Palm Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, songwriter

Notes: Also recorded under the name Morton James.

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

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	B-29979	10-in.	5/9/1924	Nightingale	Nelson Maples ; S.S. Leviathan Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and bird imitations	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-48162	10-in.	11/14/1928	How about me?	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-48163	10-in.	11/14/1928	I m sorry, Sally	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-49276	10-in.	12/19/1928	My inspiration is you	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-49277	10-in.	12/19/1928	Little Irish rose	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-49278	10-in.	12/19/1928	Rosemary	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-49670	10-in.	1/21/1929	I'll always be in love with you	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-49795	10-in.	3/26/1929	There's a place in the sun for you	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-50752	10-in.	3/13/1929	There'll be you and I	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-50753	10-in.	3/13/1929	The world is yours and mine	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-50928	10-in.	3/11/1929	I'll always be Mother's boy	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-51623	10-in.	4/13/1929	There's the one for me	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-51624	10-in.	4/13/1929	This is heaven	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-51688	10-in.	5/7/1929	You're just another memory	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-51689	10-in.	5/7/1929	That's you, baby	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BRC-53044	10-in.	4/21/1931	Now you're in my arms	Gene Austin	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	songwriter
Victor	BRC-53052	10-in.	4/23/1931	Now you're in my arms	Bert Lown Hotel Biltmore Orchestra ; Elmer Feldkamp	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BVE-53582	10-in.	6/25/1929	Love is a dreamer	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-53583	10-in.	6/25/1929	When they sing "The wearin' of the green"	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-57966	10-in.	12/30/1929	The shepherd's serenade	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-57967	10-in.	12/30/1929	That wonderful something (Is love)	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-67498	10-in.	3/10/1931	Wabash moon	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	songwriter, vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BVE-67507	10-in.	2/18/1931	Wabash moon	Wayne King Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet	songwriter
Victor	BVE-68802	10-in.	3/12/1931	If you should ever need me (You'll always find me here)	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BRC-68885	10-in.	4/9/1931	Mother's apron strings	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BRC-68886	10-in.	4/9/1931	The little old church in the valley	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BRC-70103	10-in.	6/30/1931	Now you're in my arms	Georges Metaxa	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Victor	BVE-70266	10-in.	10/5/1931	Carolina moon	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with violin and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	BRC-Test-468	10-in.	6/15/1931	Wabash moon	Frances Langford	Female vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Victor	[Trial 1923-08-20-01]	10-in.	8/20/1923	When Irish eyes are smiling	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	[Trial 1923-08-20-02]	10-in.	8/20/1923	Out where the blue begins	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo	vocalist, tenor vocal
Victor	[Trial 1927-04-20-06]	10-in.	4/20/1927	Mary dear, I miss you	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo	vocalist, tenor vocal
Columbia	W151282	10-in.	2/6/1931	Wabash moon	The Cavaliers	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet	songwriter
Columbia	W151373	10-in.	2/27/1931	Wabash moon	Charlie Lawman	Male vocal solo	songwriter
Columbia	W151420	10-in.	3/13/1931	Wabash moon	Kate Smith	Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble	songwriter
Columbia	W151548	10-in.	5/7/1931	Now you're in my arms	Ben Selvin and his Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Columbia	W151553	10-in.	5/15/1931	Now you're in my arms	James Melton	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Columbia	W351011	10-in.	4/22/1931	Now you're in my arms	Chester Leighton and his Sophomores [Selvin's Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Columbia	W365012	10-in.	5/20/1931	Now you're in my arms	Jack Miller	Male vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
OKeh	W404833	10-in.	1/27/1931	Wabash moon	Ed Kirkeby Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	15608-15609	10-in.	4/21/1925	The melody that made you mine	Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	15610-15611	10-in.	4/21/1925	When the one you love loves you	Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E15612	10-in.	4/21/1925	When the one you love loves you	Morton Downey ; Dan Lieberfeld	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E15613	10-in.	4/21/1925	The melody that made you mine	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E36084	10-in.	2/17/1931	Wabash moon	Regent Club Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E36196	10-in.	2/27/1931	Wabash moon	Ross Colby	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Brunswick	E36425	10-in.	3/29/1931	Wabash moon	Nick Lucas	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble	songwriter
Brunswick	E36451	10-in.	4/9/1931	Now you’re in my arms	Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas ; Nick Lucas	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E36628	10-in.	4/16/1931	Now you’re in my arms	Owen Fallon and his Californians [Fred Rich Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E36629	10-in.	4/16/1931	En mis brazos	O. Fallon y sus Californianos [Fred Rich Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E36631	10-in.	4/16/1931	Fiesta	Sleepy Hall and his Collegians [Fred Rich Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Brunswick	E36707	10-in.	5/19/1931	Now you’re in my arms	Pat Harrington	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	songwriter
Brunswick	E16183-E16185	10-in.	8/20/1925	Memories	Morton Downey ; Harry Parrella	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16186-E16188	10-in.	8/20/1925	Lonesome, that's all	Morton Downey ; Harry Perrella	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16238-E16241	10-in.	8/26/1925	I'm falling in love with some one	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16242-E16245	10-in.	8/26/1925	I'll take you home again, Kathleen	Frank E. Banta ; Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16589-E16591	10-in.	10/10/1925	The lonesomest girl in town	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16592-E16594	10-in.	10/10/1925	Cross my heart, Mother (I love you)	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16617-E16619	10-in.	10/14/1925	Let the rest of the world go by	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E16636-E16638	10-in.	10/15/1925	The world is waiting for the sunrise	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E17112-E17113	10-in.	12/17/1925	The world is waiting for the sunrise	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E17364-E17366	10-in.	1/5/1926	Lo-nah	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E17393½-E17397	10-in.	1/8/1926	Just a cottage small (By a waterfall)	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with string quartet and piano	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E20867-E20868	10-in.	12/3/1926	Since I found you	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E20869-E20871	10-in.	12/3/1926	The little white house (At the end of Honeymoon Lane)	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Brunswick	E36088-E36089	10-in.	2/17/1931	Wabash moon (Waltz)	Joe Green Novelty Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G)	songwriter
Brunswick	TCL1418	10-in.	3/2/1931	Say a little prayer for me	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Edison	9123	10-in.	8/25/1923	Where rainbows end	Morton Downey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, tenor vocal
Gramophone	Bb19981	10-in.	9/8/1930	Say a little prayer for me	Morton Downey	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	63391	10-in.	3/11/1938	Home sweet home	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	63392	10-in.	3/11/1938	Love's old sweet song	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	63397	10-in.	3/11/1938	When day is done	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	63398	10-in.	3/11/1938	A perfect day	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	72089	10-in.	5/8/1944	Precious Lord hold my hand	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	72090	10-in.	5/8/1944	Christopher Robin is saying his prayers	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	72091	10-in.	5/8/1944	Spring will be a little late this year	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80531		2/14/1951	Goodnight sweet Jesus	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80532		2/14/1951	Take my hand, precious Lord	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80533		2/14/1951	My desire	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80534		2/14/1951	When I've done my best	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80625		2/28/1951	I've been a stranger in my family	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80626		2/28/1951	Just a closer walk with Thee	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80627		2/28/1951	O Lord, I am not worthy	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal
Decca	80628		2/28/1951	Hear me Lord	Morton Downey		vocalist, tenor vocal

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Downey, Morton," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108320.

Downey, Morton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108320.

"Downey, Morton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.