Ruth Etting "SAM, THE OLD ACCORDION MAN" (1927)

"Sam, the Old Accordion Man"
Words and Music by Walter Donaldson
Sung by Ruth Etting
Recorded March 1, 1927, New York

Ruth Etting was born Nov. 23, 1897 in David City, Nebraska. She attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; originally intended to be a fashion designer; At 17 she got a job in a Chicago night club working on costumes. Debut in chorus of revue at the Marigold Gardens Theatre, Chicago, 1925. She sang on early radio eventually winning title of "Chicago's Sweetheart." New York stage debut in the 1927 edition of Ziegfeld Follies (New Amsterdam), August 16, 1927. Appeared in the same theatre, December 4, 1928, in "Whoopee" with Eddie Cantor. Several other reviews including the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931." Debut in London in "Tranatlantic Rhythm" at the Adelphi, October 1, 1934. Made several films, the best-remembered being "Roman Scandals", 1933. Composed several popular songs, "Wistful and Blue" and "When You're With Somebody Else' and "Maybe, Who Knows," being among them. Doris Day played the role of Etting in the 1955 movie "Love Me or Leave Me." James Cagney co-starred.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ruth
• Etting
• Sam
• The
• Old
• Accordion
• Man
• Walter
• Donaldson
• 1920s
• jazz
• vocal
• solo
• torch
• singer
• 1927
• 78
• rpm
• Columbia
• 908-D

[Micelli1947]

I can remember as a young lad there was a tavern down the street that was called "Accordion Joe's". . .many happy songs existed the windows (days before A/C) as we walked by in the summer. The GOOD OLD DAYS. . gone forever but a memory.

[bsgs98]

@Micelli1947 Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Music has a way of triggering pleasant memories.

[rockgor]

Ruth Etting was a great vocalist. I read an interview from her later years.

She said she never got any money for recording until decades later when

her songs were released on long-playing records.

LP records were new when I was a kid. Now they are obsolete.

It's great we can hear all this wonderful stuff on Youtube.

Tnx 4 posting.

[bsgs98]

@rockgor One of the first LP reissues was done by Biograph Records in 1973. Ruth had officially retired in 1937. She was asked to write the liner notes for this LP and she stated she was happy and flattered that Biograph had selected some of her early recordings for reissue.

[rockgor]

@bsgs98 Couldn't find a biography of Ruth, but I found a book at the library that has

a chapter on her as well as half a dozen stars of the period. Have it "on hold'.

I wonder if she had any vocal training or was simply a natural. Anyhoo, I have loved her

recordings for some decades now.

[bsgs98]

@rockgor I read that she started out as a soprano in in her church choir, but no formal trainng that I'm aware of. She began her professional career as a show dancer, but soon it was discovered she was a natural vocalist.

[1948brighteyes]

Respond to this video... I GREW UP LISTENING TO RUTH . MY DADDY LOVED HER. MY GRANDPA LOVED HER. EVEN AS A LITTLE KID, I LOVED HER - AND STILL DO. HAVE MY DAD'S RECORDS. THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE. 

[1948brighteyes]

@Micelli1947

[Micelli1947]

GOOD MUSIC IS TIMELESS!

[GMYellowstone]

@TheMick26 That's great!! My husband and I are 26 and we LOVE this stuff, too :) What's not to like, right?? :D

[StukInTexAss]

@rockgor Her first fame was being a "featured" Ziegfield chorus girl.

[TheMick26]

My wife and I just turned 40, but for some reason have always loved this music.

Thanks for posting it!

Best regards to you and yours,

Mick