Anson Weeks

Anson Weeks (February 14, 1896, Oakland, California – February 7, 1969, Sacramento, California) was an American pianist and the leader of a popular west coast dance band from the late 1920s through the 1960s, primarily in San Francisco. He made his first recording in Oakland on February 7, 1925, but it was not issued.

He formed his first band in 1924 and had key hotel jobs in Oakland and Sacramento. By the late 1920s he led a popular regional orchestra and started recording for Columbia in 1928. He garnerered favorable attention in late 1931 on the "Lucky Strike Magic Carpet" radio program. His vocalists included Art Wilson, Harriet Lee, Donald Novis, Bob Crosby, Carl Ravazza, Kay St. Germaine, and Bob Gage. In 1932, he signed with Brunswick and recorded prolifically for them through 1935. During this time, his was one of Brunswick's premier bands and was nationally popular. He later did a session for Decca in 1937.

Weeks was involved in an auto accident in 1941 and was out of the band business for several years, starting up again in the late 1940s. He signed with the local Fantasy label in the early 1950s and did a series of dance albums (Dancin' With Anson) that were quite popular regionally (and were still in the catalog through the 1970s).

His songs include "I'm Writing You This Little Melody" (theme song), "I'm Sorry Dear", "Senorita", "That Same Old Dream", and "We'll Get A Bang Out Of Life".

Birth and Death Data: Born February 14, 1896 (Oakland), Died February 7, 1969 (Sacramento)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1937

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

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 44 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-35767 10-in. 7/14/1926 New moon Johnny Hamp ; Kentucky Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio composer  
Victor PBVE-42132 10-in. 3/28/1928 I'm writing you this little melody Robert Olsen Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano composer  
Victor PBVE-68314 10-in. 10/13/1931 I'm sorry dear Lofner-Harris St. Francis Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor LBVE-70635 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 12/1/1931 Popular selections Mildred Bailey ; Jack Fulton ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Romancers Jazz/dance band, with female and male vocal solos and male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BSHQ-73147 10-in. 8/2/1932 Linger longer (In my arms) Graham Prince Palais D'Or Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take 3); with male vocal ensemble (take 1); with male vocal solo (take 2) composer  
Victor [Trial 1925-02-07-03] 10-in. 2/7/1925 New moon Anson Weeks Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo composer, leader  
Columbia W142763 10-in. 9/27/1926 New moon Douglas Richardson Male vocal solo, with piano songwriter  
Columbia W145949 10-in. 4/30/1928 I'm writing you (This little melody) Kreider and Holt (The Harmony Buddies) Male vocal duet, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia W146227 10-in. 5/3/1928 Dream house Anson Weeks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146228 10-in. 5/3/1928 Wob-a-ly walk Anson Weeks Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo leader  
Columbia W146230 10-in. Apr.-May 1928 Precision Anson Weeks Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W146500 10-in. 6/28/1928 I'm writing you this little melody Walton McKinney Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia W147828 10-in. 1/28/1929 Susianna Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with vocal solo leader  
Columbia W147829 10-in. 1/28/1929 Give your little baby lots of lovin' Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W147834 10-in. 1/29/1929 Señorita Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, composer  
Columbia W147835 10-in. 1/29/1929 Ploddin' along Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148596 10-in. 6/19/1929 Now I'm in love Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148597 10-in. 6/19/1929 Tear drops Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio leader  
Columbia W148730 10-in. 6/21/1929 Someday soon Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148731 10-in. 6/22/1929 Pals forever Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148732 10-in. 6/24/1929 Only for you Anson Weeks Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W148733 10-in. 6/25/1929 She Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio leader, songwriter  
Columbia W150449 10-in. 5/21/1930 If I had a girl like you Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W150518 10-in. 5/21/1930 Ro-ro-rollin' along Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra ; Anson Weeks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W151854 10-in. 10/13/1931 I'm sorry, dear Anson Weeks Orchestra ; Don Raymond Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader, songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 44 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Weeks, Anson," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102708.

Weeks, Anson. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102708.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/102708

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