Larry Shay

Larry Shay (né Lawrence Fredrick Schaetzlein; 10 August 1897 Chicago – 22 February 1988 Newport Beach, California) was an American songwriter.

Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929 he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling" (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin).

In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired him to become their music director and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired Bing Crosby, who was paid $50 a day by MGM for his first picture.

He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz Society in Ventura, California.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 10, 1897 (Chicago), Died February 22, 1988 (Newport Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 151-175 of 221 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E28194 10-in. 9/11/1928 Get out and get under the moon Wabash Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E32212 10-in. 2/21/1930 When you’re smiling Jungle Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E32447 10-in. 3/20/1930 When you’re smiling (The whole world smiles with you) Jungle Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E34696 10-in. 10/5/1930 Gee, but I’d like to make you happy Lloyd Huntley Isle O’ Blues Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E2483-E2485 10-in. 2/18/1926 Tie me to your apron strings again Tuxedo Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Brunswick E6432-E6434 10-in. 9/9/1927 Highways are happy ways (When they lead the way to home) Jay’s Chelsea Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E7115-E7116 10-in. 2/6/1928 Everywhere you go Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E15929-E15932 10-in. 6/3/1925 By the light of the stars Nick Lucas Male vocal solo, with guitar composer  
Brunswick E16381-E16383 10-in. 9/14/1925 I'm knee deep in daisies Park Lane Orchestra [Carl Fenton's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E16566½-E16568½ 10-in. 10/9/1925 What do we care if it's one o'clock Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E17523-E17525 10-in. 1/18/1926 What do we care if it’s one o’clock Frank Munn Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet composer  
Brunswick E17582-E17584 10-in. 1/20/1926 Tie me to your apron strings again Volunteer Firemen Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet composer  
Brunswick E17853-E17856 10-in. 2/2/1926 Nothing else to do (But sit around and think about you) Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E17862-E17863 10-in. 2/2/1926 Nothing else to do (But sit around and think of you) Abe Lyman’s California Orchestra ; Charles Kaley Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E20426-E20427 10-in. 10/16/1926 I’d love to call you my sweetheart Park Lane Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E20564-E20565 10-in. 10/28/1926 I’d love to call you my sweetheart Nick Lucas ; Sam H. Stept Male vocal solo, with guitar and piano composer  
Brunswick E21060-E21061 10-in. 12/24/1926 The coat and the pants do all the work and the vest gets all the gravy Six Jumping Jacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E21291-E21293 10-in. 1/25/1927 When I first met Mary Clevelanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E23564-E23566 10-in. 6/10/1927 Let’s make believe Ernie Golden ; Hotel McAlpin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal trio; without vocal (take E23566) composer  
Brunswick E24175-E24178 10-in. 8/10/1927 Highways are happy ways (When they lead the way to home) Frank Black Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet; without vocal (take E24178) composer  
Brunswick E26270-E26272 10-in. 1/25/1928 Beautiful Century Serenaders ; Harry Reser Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (takes E26272, E7016 1/2) songwriter  
Brunswick E26520-E26522 10-in. 2/15/1928 Beautiful Colonial Club Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (E26522) songwriter  
Brunswick 8Ch-10Ch 10-in. 1/16/1924 You’re in Kentucky sure as you're born Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick C1825 10-in. 3/29/1928 Just across the street from heaven Elmo Tanner Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet composer  
Brunswick C1975 10-in. 5/25/1928 Get out and get under the moon Edith Evans Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
(Results 151-175 of 221 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shay, Larry," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

Shay, Larry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

"Shay, Larry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661

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