Alex Kramer

Alex J. Kramer (May 30, 1903 – February 10, 1998) was a Canadian songwriter.

He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His parents were Adolph and Freda Kramer. At age 17 he was hired as a pianist in a silent movie theater in Montreal. He traveled first to Palm Beach, Florida, joining the Meyer Davis orchestra, and then to Paris and Cannes, before returning to New York City, where he became a radio bandleader. He also worked as an accompanist in nightclubs and in vaudeville.

One of his other musical activities was coaching vocalists in singing techniques, and one of his students was Joan Whitney, who eventually became both his wife and his songwriting partner. Their first hit as a songwriting team was "High on a Windy Hill," which became a No. 1 hit in 1941 for the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra.

In 1948, he and his wife started a song publishing firm. However, soon followed the end of the big band era, leading to the collapse of their publishing business. He eventually became associated with Bourne Co. Music Publishers. He also continued to lead an orchestra, conduct on the radio, and serve as an accompanist in night clubs and what remained of the vaudeville business.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 30, 1903 (Montreal), Died February 10, 1998

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, composer, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-055145 10-in. 10/30/1940 So you're the one Janet Blair ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-055217 10-in. 12/11/1940 It all comes back to me now Bob Allen ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor PBS-055481 10-in. 3/14/1941 My sister and I Anita Boyer ; Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-056447 10-in. 10/7/1940 So you're the one Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-057390 10-in. 11/12/1940 High on a windy hill Tommy Ryan ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-057683 10-in. 11/28/1940 High on a windy hill Roy Bargy ; Lanny Ross Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor BS-058236 10-in. 12/6/1940 It all comes back to me now Barry Wood Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor BS-058251 10-in. 12/10/1940 High on a windy hill Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-058304 10-in. 12/4/1940 It all comes back to me now Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-060958 10-in. 3/4/1941 My sister and I Bob Chester Orchestra ; Bill Darnell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-062757 10-in. 3/14/1941 My sister and I Bea Wain Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-062775 10-in. 3/26/1941 My sister and I Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey ; Rhythm Reys Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor BS-065047 10-in. 4/24/1941 It all comes back to me now Marimba Pan-Americana Marimba band songwriter  
Victor BS-066821 10-in. 7/14/1941 Yo te amo, oh! Baby Dorothy Allen ; New Music [Shep Fields] Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-066832 10-in. 7/14/1941 Yo te amo, oh!, Baby Four King Sisters ; Rhythm Reys Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D4AB-0027 10-in. 2/1/1944 It's love-love-love Four King Sisters Female vocal quartet, with male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor D4VB-1063 10-in. 12/15/1944 Candy Albert Sack ; Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor D4VB-1065 10-in. 12/15/1944 Candy Buddy Cole ; Four King Sisters Female vocal quartet, with instrumental octet songwriter  
Victor D5VB-0765 10-in. 5/21/1945 (Why don't you look me up) down in Chi-Chi Hotcha Watchee Vaughn Monroe ; Norton Sisters ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Male vocal solo, with female vocal group and jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D5VB-1040 10-in. 3/23/1945 Counting the days Albert Sack ; Dinah Shore Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor D6VB-3074 10-in. 10/17/1946 That's the beginning of the end Perry Como Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0473 10-in. 2/20/1947 Ain't nobody here but us chickens Phil Harris ; Phil Harris Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist, composer  
Victor D8VB-3451 10-in. 12/27/1948 Comme-ci - comme-ça Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Jud Conlon Singers ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor D8VB-3991 10-in. 12/14/1948 Far away places Perry Como ; Henri René Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor D8VB-4058 10-in. 12/14/1948 Why is it? Henri René ; Fran Warren Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 27 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kramer, Alex," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111089.

Kramer, Alex. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111089.

"Kramer, Alex." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111089

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