James Brockman

James Brockman (December 8, 1886 – May 22, 1967) was an American songwriter. Born in Russia, he emigrated to New York by himself at the age of 9 or 10. His given name was Jacob Brachman but he changed the spelling of the last name because it was mis-pronounced and the rest of the family followed with the change.

Brockman began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and musicals in the early 1900s. He was a partner, along with James Kendis, of the Kendis-Brockman Music Company.

He wrote the lyrics to Down among the Sheltering Palms with music by composer and Chicago music publisher Abe Olman. Oldman's marketing of the song led to Leo Feist acquiring it and encouraging Al Jolson to perform on stage.

In 1919, he was a co-writer of the song "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", which years later would become the anthem of the English football club West Ham United. Also in 1919, he co-wrote "I'm Like a Ship Without a Sail". He also co-wrote, with Abe Olman, the song "Down Among The Sheltering Palms", published in 1914 and popularized by the Boswell Sisters in the early 1930s.

He went on to work in Hollywood as a songwriter for films, and wrote the score for Happy Days. He died in Santa Monica, California in May 1967, aged 80, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 8, 1886 (Russian Empire), Died May 22, 1967 (Santa Monica)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, composer, lyricist, tenor vocal

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

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 146 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 147918 10-in. 2/5/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Jim Andrews ; Jerome Conrad Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W147951 10-in. 2/11/1929 I faw down an' go boom! Charles Fulcher Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W149626 10-in. 12/28/1929 Doughboy's lullaby Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W151569 10-in. 5/26/1931 Faithfully yours Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Columbia 87361 10-in. approximately May 1921 Nid d’amour Hector Pellerin Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W351020 10-in. 5/19/1931 Faithfully yours Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W703147 10-in. February 1930 Arrullo militar Enrique Madriguera ; Notas Mágicas Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W703192 10-in. April 1930 Si la vida te sonríe : Fox trot Enrique Madriguera ; Notas Mágicas ; Adolfo Utrera Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh 138 10-in. ca. May 1918 Three pickaninnies Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
OKeh 294 10-in. ca. Aug. 1918 We're bound to win with boys like you Franklyn Kent Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh 502 10-in. ca. Dec. 1918 Lonesome Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh 613 10-in. ca. Feb. 1919 Forget-me-not Samuel Ash Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7086 10-in. ca. Dec. 1919 I am climbing mountains Joseph A. Phillips ; Carroll Shannon Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7109 10-in. ca. Dec. 1919 I am climbing mountains Conway's Band Band songwriter  
OKeh S-7120 10-in. approximately Dec. 1919 Sunny weather friends Harvey Hindermyer Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7198 10-in. ca. Jan. 1920 For ev'ry door that closes Reed Miller Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7227 10-in. Feb. 1920 Brazilian chimes Crescent Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-7347 10-in. Mar. 1920 Ages and ages Samuel Ash Male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh S-7565 10-in. Sept. 1920 Feather your nest Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-7782 10-in. Feb. 1921 Jabberwocky Joseph Samuels Jazz Band Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-7864 10-in. Apr. 1921 Pining Perry's Syncopators Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-70108 10-in. Aug. 1921 Sunny side Sal Damon's Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
OKeh S-70538 10-in. Mar. 1922 Babbling brook Virginia Burt ; Elliott Shaw Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
OKeh S-72118 10-in. 11/26/1923 You, darling, you Ace Brigode ; Ten Virginians Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-72565 10-in. 5/23/1924 Nightingale Sibyl Sanderson Fagan ; Hotel Sylvania Orchestra of Philadelphia ; Vincent Rizzo Jazz/dance band, with whistling obbligato composer  
(Results 76-100 of 146 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brockman, James," accessed April 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

Brockman, James. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540.

"Brockman, James." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106540

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