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Ben Selvin

Benjamin Bernard Selvin (March 5, 1898 – July 15, 1980) was an American musician, bandleader, and record producer. He was known as the Dean of Recorded Music.

Selvin was born in New York City, United States, the son of Jewish Russian immigrants. He started his professional life at age 15 as a fiddle player in New York City night clubs. Six years later, as leader of his own dance band, the Novelty Orchestra, he released what was later alleged to be the biggest-selling popular song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. "Dardanella" allegedly sold more than six million copies and an additional million pieces of sheet music—although in a joint interview with Gustave Haenschen, founding director of popular-music releases at Brunswick Records, Selvin described the alleged record-sales total as “nonsensical” and said the actual sales of “Dardanella” and other purported “million-sellers” in the 1920s was 150,000 discs. He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that was presented to Selvin on his retirement on March 14, 1963.

According to The Guinness Book of World Records, Selvin recorded more musical sides (on 78-rpm discs) than any other person. One reason for this prolific output is that he recorded for dozens of different record labels during this productive time in the industry, using a different name for each label. His output has been estimated at 13,000 to 20,000 song titles.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 5, 1898 (New York City), Died July 15, 1980 (Manhasset)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1919 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, violin, vocalist, songwriter, composer, lyricist, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 501-525 of 1016 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W149467 10-in. 11/2/1929 To be forgotten The Columbia Photo Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149620 10-in. 12/26/1929 The rogue song The Columbia Photo Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W149621 10-in. 12/26/1929 When I'm looking at you The Columbia Photo Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W149626 10-in. 12/28/1929 Doughboy's lullaby Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149627 10-in. 12/28/1929 Romance Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia [W]149651 10-in. 11/29/1929 Chant of the jungle The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia [W]149652 10-in. 11/29/1929 That wonderful something (Is love) The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] ; Kate Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W149697 10-in. 12/7/1929 The shepherd's serenade Smith Ballew ; Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149698 10-in. 12/7/1929 Charming Smith Ballew ; Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149699 10-in. 12/9/1929 Why? Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Walter Feldkamp ; Alan Moran Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet and piano duet leader  
Columbia W149700 10-in. 12/9/1929 Cross your fingers Walter Feldkamp ; Alan Moran ; Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet and piano duet leader  
Columbia W149701 10-in. 12/9/1929 My man is on the make Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149702 10-in. 12/9/1929 When I am house-keeping for you Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149711 10-in. 12/11/1929 Why do you suppose? Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149712 10-in. 12/11/1929 Do ya love me? (Just a tiny bit, do ya?) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149727 10-in. 12/23/1929 March of the old guard The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet leader  
Columbia W149736 10-in. 1/7/1930 Funny, dear, what love can do Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149737 10-in. 1/7/1930 'Tain't no sin (To dance around in your bones) Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149759 10-in. 1/14/1930 Sitting by the window The Columbia Photo Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149760 10-in. 1/14/1930 Mona The Columbia Photo Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149780 10-in. 1/17/1930 My Hawaiian isles Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149781 10-in. 1/17/1930 My Hawaiian souvenir Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149919 10-in. 1/27/1930 Good for you—bad for me Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149920 10-in. 1/27/1930 Thank your father Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W149923 10-in. 1/28/1930 For you a lei Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
(Results 501-525 of 1016 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Selvin, Ben," accessed October 28, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

Selvin, Ben. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064.

"Selvin, Ben." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111064

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