Ken Darby

Kenneth Lorin Darby (May 13, 1909 – January 24, 1992) was an American composer, vocal arranger, lyricist, and conductor. His film scores were recognized by the awarding of three Academy Awards and one Grammy Award. He provided vocals for the Munchkinland mayor in The Wizard of Oz (1939), who was portrayed in the film by Charlie Becker. Darby is also notable as the author of The Brownstone House of Nero Wolfe (1983), a biography of the home of Rex Stout's fictional detective.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 13, 1909 (Nebraska), Died January 24, 1992 (Sherman Oaks)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: bass vocal, arranger, piano, conductor, 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
Victor	BS-94198	10-in.	9/7/1935	A picture of me without you	Ken Darby ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet	vocalist, bass vocal
Victor	CS-95096	12-in.	9/28/1935	Jubilee medley	Ken Darby ; Bud Linn ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona	Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos	vocalist, bass vocal
Victor	BS-99058	10-in.	2/6/1936	Awake in a dream	Ken Darby ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Ramona	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet	vocalist, bass vocal
Victor	BS-017741	10-in.	12/17/1937	You're out of this world	Jerry Blaine ; Stream Line Rhythm	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	D7VB-3156	10-in.	12/12/1947	Johnny Appleseed overture	Ken Darby ; Dennis Day	Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and instrumental ensemble	conductor
Decca	DLA 2460	10-in.	6/25/1941	Li'l Liza Jane	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2461	10-in.	6/25/1941	The chool song	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2462	10-in.	6/25/1941	Simple Simon	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2463	10-in.	6/25/1941	Old King Cole	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2476	10-in.	6/28/1941	The reluctant dragon	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2477	10-in.	6/28/1941	Old Dan Tucker	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2478	10-in.	6/28/1941	Little brown jug	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2479	10-in.	6/28/1941	Three blind mice	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2480	10-in.	6/28/1941	Polly put the kettle on	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2481	10-in.	6/28/1941	Old MacDonald had a farm	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2487	10-in.	6/30/1941	Travelin' back to Alabam'	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2488	10-in.	6/30/1941	In the morning by the brightlight	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2489	10-in.	6/30/1941	Gabriel's band	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2490	10-in.	6/30/1941	In the evening by the moonlight	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal, arranger
Decca	DLA 2519	10-in.	7/9/1941	Close 'em windows	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2520	10-in.	7/9/1941	Marching to Pretoria	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2521	10-in.	7/9/1941	Listen to the silver trumpets	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2522	10-in.	7/9/1941	Way up yonder	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2523	10-in.	7/9/1941	Oh dem golden slippers	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2524	10-in.	7/9/1941	Tapioca	King’s Men		instrumentalist, piano, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2569	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles: Medley: Hello - How do you do, everybody, how do you do? ; Where is John? ; Whistle, Mary, whistle ; Maiden fair and slender ; The more we get together	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2570	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles: Medley: I went to the animal fair ; Sweetly sings the donkey ; Pussy willow ; The spider and the fly ; The huntsman	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2571	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles: Chairs to mend ; Hot spice gingerbread ; Bring the tea tray ; He that will an alehouse keep	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2572	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles: Medley: Threw it out the window ; Little Tom Tinker ; Prairie flower I Frere Jacques ; Brother John	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2573	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles: Medley: Summer is Icumen in ; Hay making song ; Lovely evening ; Stars of the Summer night ; Nighty night	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2574	10-in.	7/18/1941	Rounds, catches and jingles	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2588	10-in.	7/28/1941	Shepherd's Christmas song	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2589	10-in.	7/28/1941	We three Kings	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2590	10-in.	7/24/1941	The Holy Child	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2591	10-in.	7/24/1941	The star of Bethlehem	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2601	10-in.	7/31/1941	The first Nowell	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2602	10-in.	7/31/1941	Joy to the world	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2603	10-in.	7/31/1941	Carry me back to old Virginny	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2629	10-in.	8/5/1941	The Holy Child	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal
Decca	DLA 2630	10-in.	8/5/1941	Carry me back to Old Virginny	King’s Men		arranger, vocalist, bass vocal

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Darby, Ken," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103931.

Darby, Ken. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103931.

"Darby, Ken." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.