Larry Shay

Larry Shay (né Lawrence Fredrick Schaetzlein; 10 August 1897 Chicago – 22 February 1988 Newport Beach, California) was an American songwriter.

Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929 he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling" (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin).

In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired him to become their music director and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired Bing Crosby, who was paid $50 a day by MGM for his first picture.

He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz Society in Ventura, California.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 10, 1897 (Chicago), Died February 22, 1988 (Newport Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 221 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-29071 10-in. 12/7/1923 You're in Kentucky sure as you're born Garber-Davis Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-29515 10-in. 2/15/1924 You're in Kentucky sure as you're born Frank Crumit Male vocal solo, with piano and ukulele composer  
Victor B-30527 10-in. 7/23/1924 Only a rose (On the street of gold and sorrow) Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with cello and orchestra composer  
Victor B-30729 10-in. 8/28/1924 That's Georgia Benson Orchestra of Chicago ; Don Bestor Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30884 10-in. 10/3/1924 Too tired Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-30976 10-in. 1/21/1924 Sure as you're born "Pep" Carleton Barnard and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-31454 10-in. 11/26/1924 Too tired Mitchell Brothers Male vocal duet, with 2 banjos (self-accompaniment) composer  
Victor B-32069 10-in. 3/9/1925 I like pie, I like cake, but I like you best of all Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor B-32091 10-in. 3/12/1925 What a life (When no one loves you) Gene Austin Male vocal solo, with viola, guitar, and ukulele composer  
Victor B-32225 10-in. 3/19/1925 What a life (When no one loves you) Gene Austin Male vocal solo, with ukulele composer  
Victor BVE-32719 10-in. 5/29/1925 By the light of the stars Jan Garber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-33111 10-in. 7/27/1925 By the light of the stars Charlie Farrell ; Jim Miller Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandola composer  
Victor BVE-33337 10-in. 8/21/1925 I'm knee deep in daisies (And head over heels in love) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-33366 10-in. 9/4/1925 By the light of the stars Victor Salon Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-33397 10-in. 9/21/1925 I'm knee deep in daisies (And head over heels in love) Jack Smith Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-33532 10-in. 10/1/1925 What do we care if it's one o'clock (Or two, or three, or four) International Novelty Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-34020 10-in. 12/4/1925 Tie me to your apron strings again Alma Rotter Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-34040 10-in. 12/17/1925 Tie me to your apron strings again Jack Chapman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-34047 10-in. 12/18/1925 Tie me to your apron strings again Brox Sisters Female vocal trio, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-34393 10-in. 2/4/1926 Nothing else to do (But sit around and think of you) Jean Goldkette Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-35055 10-in. 3/12/1926 Nothing else to do but sit around and think about you Russo and Fiorito's Oriole Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-36237 10-in. 9/14/1926 I'd love to call you my sweetheart Ben Pollack's Californians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-36402 10-in. 9/24/1926 I'd love to call you my sweetheart Greta Woodson Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-36438 10-in. 10/1/1926 I'd love to call you my sweetheart Owen A. Bartlett ; Jesse Crawford ; Jean Goldkette's Book-Cadillac Hotel Orchestra Pipe organ solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-36872 10-in. 10/26/1926 I'd love to call you my sweetheart Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 1-25 of 221 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shay, Larry," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

Shay, Larry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

"Shay, Larry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661

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