Billy Murray - Titina, 1925

William Thomas "Billy" Murray (1877 - 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation's major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there. He was probably the best selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century.
In 1906 he started performing in duets with Ada Jones. He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he, therefore, often sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect. As a devoted baseball fan, he is said to have played with the New York Highlanders (Yankees) in exhibition games. He was also said to have sometimes called in sick to recording sessions in order to go to the ballpark. Ironically, he never recorded baseball's "anthem" "Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Murray's popularity faded with changes in public taste and recording technology; the rise of the electric microphone in the mid 1920s coincided with the rise of the crooners. His "hammering" style, as he called it, essentially yelling the song into the recording horn, did not work in the electronic era, and it took him some time to learn how to soften his voice. While he continued to work, his singing style was considered old fashioned and less in demand. Murray made his last recordings in 1943 and retired to Freeport, Long Island, New York in 1944. He died in nearby Jones Beach.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roaring
• Twenties
• New
• York
• vadeuville
• 78s
• vocalist
• shellack

[MikeBlitzMag]

While it is generally agreed that Billy Murray was the premier recording artist of the cylinder era, for my money, he is one of the absolute musical masters of the entire 20th century. Considering his vast recorded output, it is somewhat disconcerting that there are apparently no live performance clips of his work. If one does indeed ever surface, that would be answered prayer! God bless Billy Murray. They simply do not come any better.

[andredupuy]

This is a terrific recording!

My father has several phonographs, including a working Edison cylinder phonograph with several dozen cylinders. Billy Murray sings on many of them. My dad tells me that because the recording process required the entire orchestra to sit around a horn (like those on old phonographs) with the singer and play as loudly as they could, singers who were loud and could enunciate well were favored. That also explains the emphasis on brass as opposed to strings.

[Jonahrf]

This brings me back to a time... when i didn't exist!

[Cysmonkey]

I love his music... but saying his voice is "great" might not be the best word; It is unique and enjoyable, If he were to talk to you straight for an hour it mite feel like your ears where being raped with sandpaper condoms.

(preemptively) I'm sorry

[Bronyforever]

2:03 that ***** has dirty ass feet

[shortyblackwelll]

Billy had a long career. He startedin the late 1890s, and ended in the late 1920s. And he had a great voice!

[biryanifan]

@bassemsamehnaeem

I'm looking for Titina; Titina, my Titina,

I've searched from Palestine-a to London and Peru.

I'll die without Titina, I can't eat my Farina,

I don't want Rose or Lena; Titina, I want you.

(Want any more?)

[biryanifan]

@bassemsamehnaeem Let's see...

I've always been a restless rover in search of femininity;

I've met the pretty girls all over, but only one appealed to me.

My loving heart I tossed her, this Spanish kid in old Madrid,

She captured me and then I lost her, and ever since I'm off my lid.

I never will forget her face, I'm searching for her ev'ry place.

[fizzypopism]

Rhyming hadn't been invented yet-ina.

[catwomn64]

This wonderful man was my great uncle - he was married to my mother's aunt Madeline for a very long time. It's wonderful to know his music is still appreciated and loved !!!!

[iDazzelYou]

LOL my dad just told me to listen to "titina my titina" and I was like what the heck is that? he was like just listen to it. Hahahah I am glad I did, becaus it made me laugh and it made my day xD hahahaha he said he heard it when he was 10 at his grandpa's house lol thanks dad!