Vernon Duke
Vernon Duke (10 October [O.S. 27 September] 1903 – 16 January 1969) was a Russian-born American composer/songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940), "I Can't Get Started," with lyrics by Ira Gershwin (1936), "April in Paris," with lyrics by E. Y. ("Yip") Harburg (1932), and "What Is There To Say," for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934, also with Harburg. He wrote the words and music for "Autumn in New York" (1934) for the revue Thumbs Up! In his book, American Popular Song, The Great Innovators 1900-1950, composer Alec Wilder praises this song, writing, “The verse may be the most ambitious I’ve ever seen." Duke also collaborated with lyricists Johnny Mercer, Ogden Nash, and Sammy Cahn. |
Birth and Death Data: Born October 10, 1903 (Parafjanava), Died January 16, 1969 (Santa Monica)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1947
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano, lyricist, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 42 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-63113 | 10-in. | 7/10/1930 | I am only human after all | Frank Luther ; Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-75342 | 10-in. | 3/1/1933 | A penny for your thoughts | Roy Bargy ; Ramona | Piano duet and instrumental ensemble, with female vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-77615 | 10-in. | 9/6/1933 | This is romance | Leo Reisman Orchestra ; Arthur Wright | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-78090 | 10-in. | 10/5/1933 | This is romance | Ray Sinatra ; Conrad Thibault | Baritone vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble | composer | |
| Victor | BS-78589 | 10-in. | 11/24/1933 | Suddenly | Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-78590 | 10-in. | 11/24/1933 | What is there to say? | Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BVE-78820 | 10-in. | 11/29/1933 | April in Paris | Hotel Pierre Orchestra ; Henry King ; Joseph Sudy | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-86088 | 10-in. | 12/5/1934 | Autumn in New York | Richard Himber ; Joey Nash ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer, lyricist | |
| Victor | BS-98454 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | Words without music | Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-98455 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | That moment of moments | Eddy Duchin Orchestra ; Lew Sherwood | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-02159 | 10-in. | 10/16/1936 | Now | Al Bowlly ; Ray Noble Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | CS-011675 | 12-in. | 8/7/1937 | I can't get started | Bunny Berigan Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-018413 | 10-in. | 1/26/1938 | Piano tuner man | Bunny Berigan Orchestra ; Gail Reese | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-043248 | 10-in. | 10/30/1939 | I can't get started | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-043308 | 10-in. | 10/24/1939 | I can't get started | Dick Todd | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | PBS-049690 | 10-in. | 5/13/1940 | April in Paris | Artie Shaw Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | PBS-055184 | 10-in. | 12/3/1940 | This is romance | Artie Shaw Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | PBS-055185 | 10-in. | 12/3/1940 | What is there to say? | Artie Shaw Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-057003 | 10-in. | 10/17/1940 | The Yankee Doodle polka | Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and male vocal ensemble | composer | |
| Victor | BS-057387 | 10-in. | 11/12/1940 | Taking a chance on love | Kaydets ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | composer | |
| Victor | BS-057718 | 10-in. | 11/19/1940 | Cabin in the sky | Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-058792 | 10-in. | 1/9/1941 | Taking a chance on love | Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | composer | |
| Victor | BS-066875 | 10-in. | 7/21/1941 | April in Paris | Leo Reisman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Victor | BS-068372 | 10-in. | 11/27/1941 | Not a care in the world | Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters | Jazz/dance band, with vocal | composer | |
| Victor | BS-068374 | 10-in. | 11/27/1941 | A nickel to my name | Jan Savitt ; Top Hatters | Jazz/dance band, with vocal | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Duke, Vernon," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102913.
Duke, Vernon. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102913.
"Duke, Vernon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Vernon Duke
Discogs: Vernon Duke
Allmusic: Vernon Duke
IMDb: Vernon Duke
Britannica: Vernon Duke
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Duke, Vernon, 1903-1969 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80125365
Wikidata: Vernon Duke - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q519693
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/51891012
MusicBrainz: Vernon Duke - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/794e6b10-e8e2-4fb1-9013-6a07564b5394
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