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Ben Selvin

Benjamin Bernard Selvin (March 5, 1898 – July 15, 1980) was an American musician, bandleader, and record producer. He was known as the Dean of Recorded Music.

Selvin was born in New York City, United States, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He started his professional life at age 15 as a fiddle player in New York City night clubs. Six years later, as leader of his own dance band, the Novelty Orchestra, he released what was later alleged to be the biggest-selling popular song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. "Dardanella" allegedly sold more than six million copies and an additional million pieces of sheet music—although in a joint interview with Gustave Haenschen, founding director of popular-music releases at Brunswick Records, Selvin described the alleged record-sales total as “nonsensical” and said the actual sales of “Dardanella” and other purported “million-sellers” in the 1920s was 150,000 discs. He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that was presented to Selvin on his retirement on March 14, 1963.

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Selvin recorded more musical sides (on 78-rpm discs) than any other person. One reason for this prolific output is that he recorded for dozens of different record labels during this productive time in the industry, using a different name for each label. His output has been estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 song titles.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1898 (New York City), Died July 15, 1980 (Manhasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, violin, vocalist, songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 145959 10-in. 4/4/1928 I'm afraid of you The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 145960 10-in. 4/4/1928 Laugh! Clown! Laugh! The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 145986 10-in. 4/9/1928 Mammy is gone Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia 145987 10-in. 4/9/1928 Sweetheart, I'm sorry (That I made you cry) Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia 145988 10-in. 4/9/1928 Sentimental baby Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia 146277 10-in. 4/26/1928 My angel The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146278 10-in. 4/26/1928 I'm riding to glory (With a glorious girl) The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146279 10-in. 4/26/1928 Whisper sweet and whisper low The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146282 10-in. 4/30/1928 I'm afraid of you Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146283 10-in. 4/30/1928 What's the reason? The Knickerbockers ; The Three Melodians Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio leader  
Columbia 146313 10-in. 5/21/1928 Just a little bit o' driftwood The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146314 10-in. 5/21/1928 One alone The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146315 10-in. 5/21/1928 The desert song Bar Harbor Society Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146330 10-in. 5/23/1928 Sorry for me The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146331 10-in. 5/23/1928 Hiding in the corner of your smile Newport Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 146332 10-in. 5/23/1928 Sweet Ella May Dick Burnett ; The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146340 10-in. 5/24/1928 Happy days and lonely nights Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with violin, steel guitar, and piano instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W146341 10-in. 5/24/1928 Lonely little bluebird Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with violin, steel guitar, and piano instrumentalist, violin  
Columbia W146374 10-in. 5/31/1928 Chilly pom pom pee Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Columbia W146375 10-in. 5/31/1928 Just a night for meditation Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146380 10-in. 6/1/1928 I can't give you anything but love The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146381 10-in. 6/1/1928 I must have that man! The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146401 10-in. 6/6/1928 I must be dreaming The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146402 10-in. 6/6/1928 You took advantage of me The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146403 10-in. 6/6/1928 Do I hear you saying "I love you"? Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 226-250 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064

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