"Why Do I Always Remember?" - Maurice J. Gunsky (1926)

WHY DO I ALWAYS REMEMBER? - Tenor with violin, 'cello and piano
(Gunsky-Bories-Coakley)
Maurice J. Gunsky
Victor 20051-A, 1926.

In the collection I inherited from my grandmother there are two records featuring Maurice Gunsky (1888-1945), "Why Do I Always Remember" and "Consolation" (plus the two songs on the reverse sides). He has an interesting voice and seems to have specialized in "sad songs"---or, at least, these 4 songs on these records are sad!

I have found very little about him on the internet. He recorded about 3 dozen records on the Victor label in the late 1920s. The 1930 Victor catalog contains many of them. By 1934, only one was still listed, none other than: "Why Do I Always Remember" (which dates from Gunsky's first recording session).

A 1927 article from a Eugene, Oregon, newspaper (paraphrased here) sheds some light on his career:
Gaining his first fame as a composer, Maurice Gunsky turned to the radio as a means of trying his compositions on as large an audience as possible. His first broadcast was of "Consolation," a ballad he had just written, and the voice of Gunsky was heard singing that now-famous number for the first time over station KGO in San Francisco [perhaps my grandmother, who lived in San Francisco, heard that broadcast?]. The success of both the singer and the song were so phenomenal, that Gunsky put his vocal talents ahead of his role as composer.
The phonograph interests were soon attracted and soon the name of Gunsky made its first appearance on a Victor label. The nation-wide sale of "Consolation" established Gunsky as a recording artist and the tenor now has scores of disc successes on his list.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• +Maurice
• Gunsky
• 1926

[abendstunde49]

Dear Helen,

Thanks! I like that photo, too! I made up the title; it is a picture of a family friend in the 1930s (but it really IS Cairo).

I see you have something new, and I will proceed to it at once!

[MissVitaphone]

Thanks so much for uploading this and introducing me to this artist. I really like his voice. Thank you for the interesting biographical information. I would love to hear "Consolation" .. your description of it has made me curious.

[abendstunde49]

@MissVitaphone

I am glad you liked hearing Maurice Gunsky sing!

I will try to post "Consolation" next, but it may not be for a few weeks.

[BiagiaRose]

Interesting commentary you wrote and I love the photo album and scenes from their old life. You are very clever with your videos. Never seen anything like them!

[abendstunde49]

@BiagiaRose

Thank you for the compliment!

[SuperLuckydream]

Stylish singing and a creative and charming video. Thank you, dear Anthony.

[abendstunde49]

@SuperLuckydream

Thank you! I am pleased that you liked it!

[karmakomodia]

I keep coming back to this Video..!!! It reminds me of my father.....

[IamHelenKeller]

Hi Anthony,

A nice selection of music and photos.....

I liked the photo of "Sir Evan and Lady Margaret's townhouse in Cairo" at 1:55.

Warm Regards!

[abendstunde49]

@genia106

I think you are right; he would prefer a glass of Port!