Pete Wendling

Pete Wendling (June 6, 1888 – April 7, 1974) was an American composer and pianist, born in New York City to German immigrants.

He started his working life as a carpenter, but gained fame during the mid-1910s as a popular music composer, with his name appearing on the "Soup and Fish Rag" in 1913. He worked on such hits as "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" (recorded by Al Jolson), "Take Me To The Land Of Jazz", "Take Your Girlie To The Movies", "Felix The Cat", and "Oh What A Pal Is Mary".

Wendling was also one of the top pianists of his era, and set a long-standing record when he appeared at the London Hippodrome for eight consecutive weeks. He joined the Rhythmodik Music Roll Company in 1914, and started to record his performances on paper rolls for player pianos. In 1916 he recorded for American Piano Company (Ampico). In 1918, he joined the largest piano roll company, QRS, and rapidly became one of their most popular artists, his distinctive yet always fresh performances constantly topping their best-selling lists. They were still in production as of 2003.

He recorded two sides for Okeh Records in 1923, and in 1926, cut another four for Cameo. In 1927, QRS, who were tightening their belt due to declining sales, released Wendling, and he concentrated on his composing career until his retirement in the 1950s. In 1955, he co-wrote "I Wonder", which became a UK chart hit for both Jane Froman and Dickie Valentine. Wendling's last notable work was "Rich in Love" in 1956.

Married to Anna, he had no children. A resident of Manhattan, he died in New York City in April 1974, aged 85 after several strokes.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6, 1888, Died April 7, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, arranger, piano, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 143742 10-in. 4/5/1927 Red lips, kiss my blues away Irving Kaufman ; Lou Gold Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W143792 10-in. 3/28/1927 There's everything nice about you Peabody Trio ; The Seven Aces Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio composer  
Columbia W144016 10-in. 4/10/1927 Red lips—kiss my blues away Don Howard ; Leo Reisman Orchestra ; Harry Maxfield Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Columbia W144020 10-in. 4/12/1927 Red lips—kiss my blues away Billy Day Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 144040 10-in. 4/18/1927 Red lips, kiss my blues away Honey Duke and his Uke Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and ukulele composer  
Columbia 144271 10-in. 6/14/1927 There's everything nice about you Jane Gray Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 145555 10-in. 1/19/1928 I've got nothin'—you've got nothin' (We ain't got nothin' to lose) Ernie Golden and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W145615 10-in. 2/7/1928 (I've got nothin'—you've got nothin') We ain't got nothin' to lose Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W145663 10-in. 2/23/1928 Humoreskimo Clicquot Club Eskimos ; Harry Reser ; Tom Stacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 145699 10-in. 2/29/1928 In the sweet bye and bye Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W145855 10-in. 3/29/1928 Starlight and tulips Playboys ; Thelma Terry Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 146301 10-in. 5/16/1928 Chilly pom pom pee University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo arranger  
Columbia W146334 10-in. 5/25/1928 Felix the Cat Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 146412 10-in. 6/7/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Andy Sannella All Star Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia 146449 10-in. 6/14/1928 He's worth his weight in gold Irving Gillette Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano composer  
Columbia W146579 10-in. 6/25/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W146589 10-in. 6/27/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W147313 10-in. 10/27/1928 Take me to the land of jazz North Georgians ; Lowe Stokes Male vocal solo, with fiddle (violin), guitar, and mandolin or banjo-mandolin composer  
Columbia W147782 10-in. 1/14/1929 (That's what I call) Sweet music Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio composer  
Columbia W149350 10-in. 11/4/1929 There's something nice about everyone Jess Young's Tennessee Band 2 fiddles (violins) and guitar composer  
Columbia [W]149643 10-in. 11/27/1929 Song of the condemned Arthur Fields ; Fred Hall Male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W149657 10-in. 11/30/1929 Song of the condemned Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W149778 10-in. 1/17/1930 There's danger in your eyes, cherie! Carmen Lombardo ; Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W149934 10-in. 1/29/1930 There's danger in your eyes, cherie! Irving Kaufman Male vocal solo composer  
Columbia [W]150053 10-in. 3/3/1930 There's danger in your eyes, cherie! Sid Garry Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 126-150 of 283 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wendling, Pete," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

Wendling, Pete. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

"Wendling, Pete." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775

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