Helmy Kresa
Helmy Kresa, (born in Meissen, Germany on November 7, 1904, died 1991, Long Island, New York) was a songwriter and the principal arranger and orchestrator for Irving Berlin. In 1931 Kresa wrote "That's My Desire", which Frankie Laine, Louis Armstrong and a host of others recorded. He also composed the instrumental music for Martin Scorsese's film Raging Bull. Kresa's was the first published arrangement of "All of Me", written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. He also acted as the arranger for Berlin for some stage musicals, including Call Me Madam (1952), Miss Liberty (1950) and Annie Get Your Gun (1949). In 1926, Kresa began working for Berlin, where he transcribed what Berlin was playing into musical manuscript form as Berlin could neither read nor write music, eventually becoming the general professional manager of the Irving Berlin Music Company. He died of pneumonia in Southampton Hospital, Southampton, Long Island, New York. His son is Kent Kresa. |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 7, 1904 (Meissen), Died August 19, 1991 (Long Island)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1947
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, arranger, songwriter
= 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 | BRC-69609 | 10-in. | 5/13/1931 | That's my desire | Dick Robertson ; Wooding’s Grand Central Red Caps | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | ABRC-69914 | 10-in. | 6/9/1931 | That's my desire | Don Byron ; Ronald Sachs Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BRC-70943 | 10-in. | 11/2/1931 | Hiding in the shadows of the moon | Peter Van Steeden Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-73302 | 10-in. | 8/16/1932 | Something in the night | Jack Fulton ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band (take 3); with male vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) | composer | |
| Victor | BS-75318 | 10-in. | 2/26/1933 | Close to my heart | Don Bestor Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | LBS-75320 | 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) | 2/26/1933 | Dance medley | Don Bestor Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-037405 | 10-in. | 5/31/1939 | An old-fashioned tune is always new | Betty Bradley ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Victor | BS-060318 | 10-in. | 1/13/1941 | My one romance | Marilyn Duke ; Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | arranger | |
| Victor | D7VB-0206 | 10-in. | 3/27/1947 | That's my desire | Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye | Male vocal solo, with vocal ensemble and jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Columbia | W151196 | 10-in. | 1/12/1931 | Headin' for better times | Ted Lewis and his Band | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | arranger | |
| Columbia | W152291 | 10-in. | 8/26/1932 | Something in the night | Lee Morse | Female vocal solo, with guitar and piano | composer | |
| Columbia | W152374 | 10-in. | 2/9/1933 | Close to my heart | Phil Regan | Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Columbia | W351136 | 10-in. | 11/23/1931 | Hiding in the shadows of the moon | Selvin’s Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Brunswick | E36858 | 10-in. | 6/12/1931 | That’s my desire | Snooks Friedman Memphis Stompers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | composer | |
| Brunswick | E36894 | 10-in. | 6/30/1931 | That’s my desire | Crooning Troubadours ; Nick Lucas | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Brunswick | E37335 | 10-in. | 10/28/1931 | Hiding in the shadows of the moon | Dick Robertson Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Brunswick | Special no. 1 | 10-in. | 9/2/1931 | That’s my desire | Noble’s [sic] | Instrumental ensemble | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kresa, Helmy," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112052.
Kresa, Helmy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112052.
"Kresa, Helmy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Kresa, Helmy, 1904-1991 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2003018357
Wikidata: Helmy Kresa - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5709859
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/61227581
MusicBrainz: Helmy Kresa - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a83d2cf3-0238-439f-a732-0ebeb2f3a825
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