James V. Kern
James V. Kern (September 22, 1909, New York City, New York – November 9, 1966, Encino, California) was an American singer, songwriter, screenwriter, actor, and director. Educated at the Fordham Law School, Kern worked for a while as an attorney. He sang with the George Olsen Trio, and appeared with the Olsen orchestra in the musical Good News. From 1927 to 1939, he sang with and wrote for the Yacht Club Boys quartet, with whom he appeared in several motion pictures. He became a screenwriter and later a director. In film, he directed mainly "B" pictures. After he moved to television he directed hundreds of series episodes, and was one of the house directors on I Love Lucy in the 1950s. He directed My Three Sons for most of two seasons in the 1960s. When he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 57, several episodes of the show remained only partially completed for the 1966/67 season; they were completed by director James Sheldon. He joined ASCAP in 1955. His popular-song compositions include "Easy Street," "Lover, Lover," "Little Red Fox," and "Shut the Door." |
Birth and Death Data: Born September 22, 1909 (New York City), Died November 9, 1966 (Encino)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1940
Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter, lyricist
Notes: Used name Jimmie Kern early in his career.
= 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 | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-043365 | 10-in. | 11/7/1939 | The little red fox (N'ya, n'ya ya can't catch me) | Hal Kemp Orchestra ; Smoothies | Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal ensemble | lyricist | |
Victor | BS-046420 | 10-in. | 1/12/1940 | The little red fox | Blue Barron ; Russ Carlyle ; Three Blue Notes | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio | lyricist | |
Columbia | W152688 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | Sing Sing isn't prison any more | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
Columbia | W152689 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | The great American tourist | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
Columbia | W152690 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | We own a salon | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
Columbia | W152691 | 10-in. | 1/16/1934 | The super-special picture of the year | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal quartet | vocalist, songwriter | |
Brunswick | E28256 | 10-in. | 9/18/1928 | Do you? That’s all I want to know! | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
Brunswick | E28257 | 10-in. | 9/18/1928 | I love that girl | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
Brunswick | E29016 | 10-in. | 1/3/1929 | The Monte Carlo song | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
Brunswick | E29017 | 10-in. | 1/3/1929 | I’m wild about horns on automobiles that go ta-ta-ta-ta | Yacht Club Boys | Male vocal and instrumental quartet | vocalist | |
Brunswick | E31460 | 10-in. | Nov. 1929 | Shut the door (They're coming through the window) | Billy Murray ; Walter Scanlan | Male vocal duet | songwriter | |
Brunswick | XE31655 | 12-in. | Dec. 1929 | Brunswick brevities program U, pt. 5 | Billy Murray ; Walter Scanlan | Radio transcription disc : Male vocal duet | songwriter |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kern, James V.," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105686.
Kern, James V.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105686.
"Kern, James V.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Kern, James V., 1909-1966 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87847745
Wikidata: James V. Kern - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2400077
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/290724429
ISNI: 0000 0001 1437 0932 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000114370932
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