Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian, and actor. He was known for his performances in the films Rhapsody in Blue (1945), The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), An American in Paris (1951), and The Band Wagon (1953). He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for recordings featuring his piano performances. He was equally famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and later in movies and television, as for his music. He was portrayed by Sean Hayes in the Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, written by Doug Wright. |
Birth and Death Data: Born December 26, 1906 (Pittsburgh), Died August 14, 1972 (Beverly Hills)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1948
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 26-50 of 110 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-100884 | 10-in. | 8/4/1936 | Until today | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
Victor | BS-018118 | 10-in. | 1/7/1938 | There's a strange little change in me | Elmer Feldkamp ; Freddy Martin Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-021974 | 10-in. | 4/13/1938 | You had an ev'ning to spare | Blue Barron ; Charlie Fischer | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-022430 | 10-in. | 4/12/1938 | You had an ev'ning to spare | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-023290 | 10-in. | 5/26/1938 | Wacky dust | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Ruth Gaylor | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-024455 | 10-in. | 8/5/1938 | How much do you mean to me? | Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-031532 | 10-in. | 1/19/1939 | Last night a miracle happened | Fats Waller and his Rhythm | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-035396 | 10-in. | 4/3/1939 | Asleep or awake | Jack Leonard ; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-035560 | 10-in. | 4/5/1939 | Asleep or awake | Charlie Barnet Orchestra ; Judy Ellington | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-035569 | 10-in. | 4/6/1939 | A fool and his honey are soon parted | Barbara Bush ; Frank Dailey ; Stop and Go Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-036509 | 10-in. | 4/18/1939 | Then came the rain | Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Victor | [Trial 1928-02-13-01] | 10-in. | 2/13/1928 | Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon | Jack Major | Male vocal solo, with piano | composer | |
Columbia | W145292 | 10-in. | 12/9/1927 | Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon | Lee Morse and her Southern Serenaders | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | W145395 | 10-in. | 12/23/1927 | Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon | Ruth Etting ; Ted Lewis and his Band | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | 145424 | 10-in. | 12/17/1927 | Keep sweeping the cobwebs off the moon | The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | 146406 | 10-in. | 6/6/1928 | Just a little way away from home | Arthur Fields ; Newport Society Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | 146784 | 10-in. | 7/23/1928 | If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) | Jimmy Flynn ; Lou Gold Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W147145 | 10-in. | 10/29/1928 | If you want the rainbow | Selvin’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | [W]147153 | 10-in. | 10/19/1928 | If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) | Gay Ellis and her Novelty Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | W147442 | 10-in. | 11/3/1928 | If you want the rainbow (You must have the rain) | Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano (takes 4-6); with alto saxophone, cornet, trombone, banjo, and piano (takes 1-3) | composer | |
Columbia | 148826 | 10-in. | 7/19/1929 | Lovable and sweet | Jim Andrews ; Lou Gold Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W148845 | 10-in. | 7/24/1929 | Lovable and sweet | Charleston Chasers | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | [W]149029 | 10-in. | 9/20/1929 | Lovable and sweet | Sammy Fain | Male vocal solo | composer | |
Columbia | W149067 | 10-in. | 9/27/1929 | Gay love | Bing Crosby | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Columbia | W149110 | 10-in. | 10/8/1929 | You're responsible! | Merle Johnston and his Ceco Couriers | Jazz/dance band | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Levant, Oscar," accessed November 12, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.
Levant, Oscar. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108664.
"Levant, Oscar." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 12 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Oscar Levant
Discogs: Oscar Levant
Grove: Oscar Levant
IMSLP: Oscar Levant
IMDb: Oscar Levant
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Levant, Oscar, 1906-1972 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no88004134
Wikidata: Oscar Levant - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q945042
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/74038101
MusicBrainz: Oscar Levant - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/51b826eb-0791-43bb-8d02-a6433ba96ca9
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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