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Harry B. Smith

Harry Bache Smith (December 28, 1860 – January 1, 1936) was a writer, lyricist and composer. The most prolific of all American stage writers, he is said to have written over 300 librettos and more than 6000 lyrics. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composers Victor Herbert and Reginald De Koven. He also wrote the book or lyrics for several versions of the Ziegfeld Follies.

Smith was born in Buffalo, New York to Josiah Bailey Smith (born 1837) and Elizabeth Bach (born 1838). According to his autobiography First Nights and First Editions (Boston: Little, Brown, 1931), Smith's actual name at birth was Henry Bach Smith. He married twice. His first wife was Lena Reed (born August 21, 1868), whom he married on October 12, 1887 in Chicago, Illinois. They had a son named Sydney Reed Smith (born July 15, 1892). Smith's second wife was the actress Irene Bentley (c. 1870 – June 3, 1940). They married on November 23, 1906 in Boston, Massachusetts, after she had been divorced on June 12, 1906 by her first husband James Thomas Sothoron, Jr. (1867–1913). Bentley retired from the stage in 1910 and died at Allenhurst, New Jersey. She is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. While on a brief holiday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on New Year's Day in 1936, Smith died of a heart attack in his room at the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel.

Smith worked on many of the famous musical theatre productions of his time. His younger brother Robert Bache Smith (June 4, 1875 – November 6, 1951) was also a successful lyricist.

Harry Smith's archive is largely held at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 28, 1860 (Buffalo), Died January 1, 1936 (Atlantic City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1894 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, arranger, songwriter, author

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

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 278 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh S-70077 10-in. Aug. 1921 I wonder if you still care for me Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70446 10-in. Feb. 1922 The sheik of Araby Charles Hart ; Orchestra of Araby Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-70980 10-in. Nov. 1922 You gave me your heart Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick X11883-X11885 12-in. 11/14/1923 Robin Hood Brunswick Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick X11905-X11908 12-in. 11/17/1923 Robin Hood Brunswick Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E23277 10-in. 5/21/1927 Dear eyes that haunt me Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Brunswick E27351 10-in. 4/16/1928 There’s something about a rose Joe Rines Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) arranger  
Brunswick E28866 10-in. 12/3/1928 The song I love Joe Rines Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) arranger  
Brunswick E28867 10-in. 12/3/1928 Carolina moon Joe Rines Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) arranger  
Brunswick E28944 10-in. 1/9/1929 Fashionete Joe Rines Orchestra Jazz/dance band arranger  
Brunswick E33333 10-in. 7/3/1930 The sheik of Araby Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist  
Brunswick E36669 10-in. 4/29/1931 Yours is my heart alone The Brunswick Orchestra [Victor Young Orchestra] ; Victor Young Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E2084-E2086 10-in. 1/8/1926 I dare not love you Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band lyricist  
Brunswick E7158-E7159 10-in. 2/11/1928 Gypsy love song Miami Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E23275-E2327 10-in. 5/21/1927 Dear eyes that haunt me Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E18013-E18015 10-in. 2/18/1926 I dare not love you Virginia Rea Female vocal solo and mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E19680-E19681 10-in. 7/7/1926 Gypsy love song Richard Bonelli Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick E19900-E19902 10-in. 7/23/1926 Play, gypsies—dance, gypsies Carl Fenton’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E20750-E20752 10-in. 11/18/1926 Someone Park Lane Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick E20846-E20847 10-in. 11/30/1926 Someone Park Lane Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E24748-E24750 10-in. 10/15/1927 Gypsy love song John Charles Thomas Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick LTR253 10-in. 11/30/1929 Gypsy love song William Edward Johnson Male vocal solo lyricist  
Edison 696 Not documented 7/7/1911 Gypsy love song Croxton Mixed Quartet Mixed vocal quartet lyricist  
Edison 2347 10-in. 6/24/1913 Though it was within this hour we met Marie De Kyser ; Royal Fish Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2443 10-in. 9/8/1913 Forest song Marie De Kyser Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 226-250 of 278 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Harry B.," accessed May 6, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588.

Smith, Harry B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 6, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588.

"Smith, Harry B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103588

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