Fred Rich & His Orch. - Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) 1929

Fred Rich & His Orchestra:
Wedding Bells(Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) (Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal, Willie Raskin), Columbia 1929

NOTE: Fryderyk Efrem ("Fred") RICH (b.1898 in Warsaw, Poland - d. 1956 in LA, California) was a Polish-born bandleader and composer who was active in the United States from the 1920s to the 1950s. Among the famous musicians in his band included the Dorsey Brothers, Joe Venuti, Bunny Berigan and Benny Goodman. In the early 1930s, Elmer Feldkamp was one of his vocalists.

Rich was a pianist educated in Warsaw. After his emigration to USA he formed his own band in the early 1920s. and quickly gained popularity in the restaurants and clubs of the East Coast. His theme songs were "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" and "So Beats My Heart For You". Between 1925-1928, he toured Europe. Rich enjoyed a long stay at the famous Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. After this, he began leading studio band that featured many famous musicians. He recorded for Okeh, Columbia, Paramount, Camden and Vocalion and several others, often recording under the names Fred Richards, the Astorites, the Hotel Astor Band (considering that Rich and his band played at the Astor Hotel for a time in the 1920s), Freddie Rich's Radio Orchestra and many others. As "Freddie Rich" he also recorded dozens of popular-title piano rolls in the 1920s for the Aeolian Company.

In the 1930s, Rich would become a musical director for various radio stations and in 1942, he moved onto a staff position with United Artists Studios in Hollywood, where he was to remain for the rest of his career. In 1945 he was badly injured when he suffered a fall. As a result, he suffered from partial paralysis. But despite this, Rich continued to lead studio bands into the 1950s. Fred Rich died on September 8, 1956 in California aged 58, after a long illness.

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[tlt1536]

I've had this for years and it's the best version I've heard....especially after the vocal...love the cymbals and syncopation!

[dzheger]

Merry music to calm my nerves as I'm waiting for the elections results. Are these seamen at 1:46 rehearsing for their wedding?

[muscleco]

Is this a different take from the one on the lovely "That's what I call sweet music" CD?

[Valjean99]

We sang this song as part of a medley in a Woodbridge, NJ minstrel show in 1968.  Old " Frogs" was the director.

[TCDS75]

Preciosa, amable, romántica, ¡Qué saxos! ............César

[lilrightious]

wow what a lucky guy at :50 seconds in. Stuck with a carload full off woman. ha , with his uncertain smile, lol. While the guy on the side walk thinks " what a lucky schmuck". Love seeing pictures of the past times. -OoLz

[ClavKiss]

I read about this song in the book Creepers from David Morrel and so I searched for it. It's really not a bad one.

[mass922]

Fantastic, I love it!

I'm reading "With The Old Breed, at Peleliu and Okinawa" and they mention a marine singin'

"Oh them mortar shells are bustin' up that ole gang of mine," (p. 104) while heading into a beachhead assault.

Its great to come on here and get a sample of the song! Its like being in the era, appreciate you putting this up, and now I am gonna buy this song and play it at all my gang's weddings as we each get tied down to our gals, haha!

[merrihew]

Not in California.

[barbcard]

Hope this lively number is a prelude to good news here when the election results start coming in.