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Maurice Chevalier

Maurice Auguste Chevalier (French: [moʁis ʃəvalje]; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including "Livin' In The Sunlight", "Valentine", "Louise", "Mimi", and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" and for his films, including The Love Parade, The Big Pond, The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour with You and Love Me Tonight. His trademark attire was a boater hat and tuxedo.

Chevalier was born in Paris. He made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age before working in menial jobs as a teenager. In 1909, he became the partner of the biggest female star in France at the time, Fréhel. Although their relationship was brief, she secured him his first major engagement, as a mimic and a singer in l'Alcazar in Marseille, for which he received critical acclaim by French theatre critics. In 1917, he discovered jazz and ragtime and went to London, where he found new success at the Palace Theatre.

After this, he toured the United States, where he met the American composers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and brought the operetta Dédé to Broadway in 1922. He developed an interest in acting and had success in Dédé. When talkies arrived, he went to Hollywood in 1928, where he played his first American role in Innocents of Paris. In 1930, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930), which secured his first big American hits, "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" and "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight".

In 1957, he appeared in Love in the Afternoon, which was his first Hollywood film in more than 20 years. In 1958, he starred with Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan in Gigi. In the early 1960s, he made eight films, including Can-Can in 1960 and Fanny the following year. In 1970, he made his final contribution to the film industry where he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. He died in Paris, on 1 January 1972, from complications of a suicide attempt.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 12, 1888 (Paris), Died January 1, 1972 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, lyricist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 132 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBVE-68361 10-in. 6/29/1932 Mimi Maurice Chevalier ; Nathaniel Finston ; Orchestre du Studio Paramount Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-68362 10-in. 6/29/1932 The poor apache Maurice Chevalier ; Nathaniel Finston Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-68363 10-in. 6/29/1932 Je suis un méchant Maurice Chevalier ; Nathaniel Finston ; Orchestre du Studio Paramount Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PCS-68450 12-in. 3/18/1933 A musical preview of A bedtime story Maurice Chevalier ; Nathaniel Finston ; Paramount Studio Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PCS-68451 12-in. 3/18/1933 Musical hits from A bedtime story Maurice Chevalier ; Nathaniel Finston ; Paramount Studio Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PCVE-68543 12-in. 9/16/1933 In a one room flat Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PCVE-68544 12-in. 9/16/1933 I'm a lover of Paree Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-69656 10-in. 5/26/1931 (There ought to be a) Moonlight saving time Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-69657 10-in. 5/26/1931 Right now! Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-69661 10-in. 5/28/1931 Mama Inez Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-69662 10-in. 5/28/1931 Maman Inez Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-69665 10-in. 5/28/1931 Bonsoir Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-69666 10-in. 5/28/1931 Bonsoir Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-69976 10-in. 6/25/1931 Nobody loves no baby (Like my baby loves me) Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-69977 10-in. 6/25/1931 Little hunka love Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-71893 10-in. 2/24/1932 What would you do? Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-71894 10-in. 2/24/1932 What would you do? Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-71898 10-in. 2/24/1932 Oh! That Mitzi Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-71899 10-in. 2/24/1932 Oh! That Mitzi Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-79596 10-in. 2/11/1935 Rhythm of the rain Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-79597 10-in. 2/11/1935 La romance de la pluie Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-79598 10-in. 2/11/1935 Singing a happy song Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-79599 10-in. 2/11/1935 La chapeau de paille Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-90000 10-in. 2/11/1935 I was lucky Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBS-90001 10-in. 2/11/1935 C'etait ecrit Maurice Chevalier Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 132 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chevalier, Maurice," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103151.

Chevalier, Maurice. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103151.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103151

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