Billy Baskette

William James Baskette (October 20, 1884 – November 8, 1949) was an American pianist and composer who wrote popular songs of the Tin Pan Alley era. He also wrote one of the most successful World War I war songs, "Good Bye Broadway, Hello France". Baskette was born in Henderson, Kentucky. His career in music began as a bassist in a circus band. He also was involved in vaudeville performances as a dancer and a pianist. Later, he became a staff composer for various music publishing firms in Chicago and New York City. He died in Culver City, California on November 8, 1949. Baskette was a part of the Tin Pan Alley movement of music. In 1918, there was a focus on music called "goodbye songs" referring to U.S. soldiers who were deployed to France during World War I. One of Baskette's most notable works was "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France," which was a hit song of the period.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 20, 1884, Died November 8, 1949

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1945

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

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 131 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	B-19369	10-in.	3/14/1917	Hawaiian butterfly	Sterling Trio	Male vocal trio, with violin, cello, and orchestra	composer
Victor	C-19611	12-in.	4/20/1917	Hawaiian butterfly	Victor Military Band	Band	composer
Victor	B-20317	10-in.	7/3/1917	Goodbye Broadway, hello France	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	composer
Victor	C-20381	12-in.	7/10/1917	Goodbye Broadway, hello France!	Conway's Band	Band	composer
Victor	B-20808	10-in.	9/29/1917	Good-bye Broadway, hello France	Pietro	Accordion solo	composer
Victor	B-21445	10-in.	2/12/1918	Each stitch is a thought of you, dear	Henry Burr	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-22086	10-in.	8/12/1918	Camp songs medley, part 1	National Camps Song Leaders	Vocal chorus, with cornet and piano	composer
Victor	B-23203	10-in.	8/12/1919	Jerry	All Star Trio	Instrumental trio	composer
Victor	B-23484	10-in.	11/20/1919	I'll dance my way right back to Dixieland	Esther Walker	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-27975	10-in.	5/25/1923	Waitin' for the evenin' mail (sitting on the inside, lookin' at the outside)	Eubie Blake ; Noble Sissle	Male vocal solo, with piano	composer
Victor	B-28220	10-in.	6/26/1923	Waitin' for the evenin' mail (sittin' on the inside, lookin' at the outside)	Tennessee Ten	Jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	B-28488	10-in.	9/18/1923	Nobody else can love me like my old tomato can	Billy Murray	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	composer
Victor	B-31158	10-in.	11/10/1924	Mean Cicero blues	Duncan Sisters	Female vocal duet, with piano	songwriter
Victor	B-31161	10-in.	11/11/1924	Heart broken strain	Benson Orchestra of Chicago ; Don Bestor	Jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BVE-34737	10-in.	3/23/1926	Talkin' to the moon	Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring	Jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BVE-35352	10-in.	4/28/1926	Talking to the moon	Jack Smith	Male vocal solo, with piano (self-accompaniment)	composer
Victor	BVE-35609	10-in.	5/17/1926	Talking to the moon	The Revelers	Male vocal quartet, with piano	composer
Victor	BVE-37584	10-in.	1/31/1927	Hoosier sweetheart	Jean Goldkette Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BVE-37585	10-in.	2/1/1927	Hoosier sweetheart (Say who)	Smith Brothers	Male vocal duet, with piano	composer
Victor	BVE-38767	10-in.	5/20/1927	I could waltz on forever (With you sweetheart)	The Troubadours	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Victor	BVE-49025	10-in.	12/28/1928	Dream train	Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra	Orchestra, with male vocal duet	composer
Victor	BVE-55601	10-in.	7/9/1929	That's when I learned to love you	Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BSHQ-73158	10-in.	8/4/1932	Same old moon (Same old sky)	James Harkins ; Sid Peltyn Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer
Victor	BS-73351	10-in.	9/1/1932	Mighty river	Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist, composer
Victor	BS-75477	10-in.	4/26/1933	Mighty river	Louis Armstrong Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist, composer

(Results 1-25 of 131 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Baskette, Billy," accessed November 15, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

Baskette, Billy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106782.

"Baskette, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 15 November 2024.