E. Ray Goetz

Edward Ray Goetz (June 12, 1886 – June 12, 1954) was an American composer, lyricist, playwright, theatre director, and theatrical producer. A Tin Pan Alley songwriter, he published more than 500 songs during his career, many of them originally written for the New York stage. His songs were recorded by several artists, including Judy Garland, Al Jolson, and Blossom Seeley. He was active as both a lyricist and composer for Broadway musicals from 1906 through to 1930, collaborating with artists like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Sigmund Romberg, and A. Baldwin Sloane to create material for the theatre.

Beginning with the musical Hitchy-Koo of 1917, he produced several of the musicals and plays he was creatively involved in up until the 1930-1931 Broadway season, when he produced his final stage work, Porter's The New Yorkers, for which he created the story and served as director. He authored the play The Lady of the Orchids which he produced on Broadway in 1928. He produced and served as production supervisor of Herbert Fields and Porter's 1929 musical Fifty Million Frenchmen which was adapted by Warner Brothers into a 1930 film of the same name.

His work as a songwriter was featured in the films For Me and My Gal (1942), Somebody Loves Me (1952), and The Greatest Show On Earth (1952), the latter of which resulted from his work as the lyricist for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus during the final three years of his life. Having never stopped working, he died in 1954.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 12, 1886 (Buffalo), Died June 12, 1954

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1906 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-4378 10-in. 4/8/1907 He goes to church on Sunday Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6353 10-in. 8/18/1908 When Grandma was a girl Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6710 10-in. 1/11/1909 The Yankiana rag Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-8073 10-in. 6/24/1909 The billiken man Blanche Ring Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-9091 12-in. 6/15/1910 What good is water when you're dry? Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9160 10-in. 7/7/1910 That dreamy barcarolle tune Ada Jones Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-9945 10-in. 2/10/1911 I love it American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10177 10-in. 4/13/1911 Toddling the todalo Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10226 10-in. 4/25/1911 June Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10369 10-in. 5/23/1911 Missouri Joe Arthur Collins Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-11060 10-in. 10/6/1911 There's a girl in Havana Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11136 10-in. 10/25/1911 In the shadows Helen Clark ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11408 10-in. 12/22/1911 Take me back to the garden of love Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11585 10-in. 2/12/1912 Alexander's bagpipe band Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11809 10-in. 4/1/1912 Lead me to that beautiful band Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12126 10-in. 6/20/1912 Fiddle-dee-dee Maurice Burkhart ; Walter Van Brunt Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12323 10-in. 9/3/1912 The million dollar ball Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12364 10-in. 9/12/1912 Rose of pyramid land Helen Clark ; Walter Van Brunt Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-12365 10-in. 9/13/1912 Where the Edelweiss is blooming Lyric Quartet Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-13514 10-in. 7/3/1913 In my garden of Eden for two Marguerite Dunlap ; Harry Macdonough Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-15022 10-in. 6/29/1914 My croony melody Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor C-15049 12-in. 7/9/1914 Broadway favorites Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-15064 10-in. 7/15/1914 My croony melody Victor Military Band Band songwriter  
Victor B-15608 10-in. 1/19/1915 Watch your step Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-16464 10-in. 9/8/1915 I'm simply crazy over you Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17240 10-in. 3/1/1916 Long live the ladies Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17330 10-in. 3/17/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17768 10-in. 5/31/1916 When you drop off at Cairo, Illinois Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17812 10-in. 6/7/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Avon Comedy Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17931 10-in. 6/26/1916 By the sad Luana shore Marguerite Farrell Female vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor C-18120 12-in. 7/14/1916 If I knock the 'L' out of Kelly Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor C-18178 12-in. 8/4/1916 If I knock the 'L' out of Kelly Victor Military Band Band composer  
Victor B-18584 10-in. 10/27/1916 When John McCormack sings a song Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-18780 10-in. 12/8/1916 Cheer up! Eat and grow thin Nora Bayes Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-19065 10-in. 1/18/1917 For me and my gal Wright and Dietrich Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19246 10-in. 3/7/1917 Yaaka hula hickey dula Gus Goldstein Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19329 10-in. 3/1/1917 For me and my gal Van and Schenck Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-20156 10-in. 6/25/1917 Hitchy-koo Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28366 10-in. 8/9/1923 So this is love Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-28542 10-in. 9/8/1923 So this is love! The Troubadours Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor B-28925 10-in. 11/5/1923 So this is love Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano and violin composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-34357 10-in. 1/26/1926 Do I love you? Irene Bordoni Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-42528 10-in. 3/1/1928 The land of going-to-be Irving Aaronson ; Commanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-43763 10-in. 5/3/1928 The land of Going-To-Be Irving Aaronson ; Irene Bordoni ; Commanders Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band and male vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-45164 10-in. 5/22/1928 La violetera Lucrezia Bori Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-07771 10-in. 4/12/1937 Yaaka hula hickey dula The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-07772 10-in. 4/12/1937 For me and my gal The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-07780 10-in. 4/12/1937 Take me back to the Garden of Love The Riversiders Male vocal quartet, with steel guitar and piano lyricist  
Victor BS-035769 10-in. 4/19/1939 Boom Maxine Gray ; Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-036928 10-in. 5/9/1939 Boom Johnny Messner ; Music Box Band ; Three Jacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Victor BS-056434 10-in. 10/3/1940 Don't go in the lion's cage tonight Four King Sisters ; Alvino Rey Female vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-075209 10-in. 5/19/1942 For me and my gal Californians ; Abe Lyman ; Billy Sherman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Trial 1917-11-26-01] Not documented 11/26/1917 Chinese letter song William Rock ; Frances White Female-male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 3414 10-in. ca. Jan.-June 1906 When the right little girl comes along George Alexander Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 3671 10-in. ca. Jan.-July 1907 He goes to church on Sunday Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 4002 10-in. ca. Jan.-Mar. 1909 Oh! that Yankiana rag Billy Murray Male vocal solo and female vocal chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 4901 10-in. ca. 1910 I love it Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19281 10-in. 4/4/1911 June Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19624 10-in. 10/27/1911 There's a girl in Havana Henry Burr ; Caroline Vaughan Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 19750 10-in. 2/7/1912 Take me back to the garden of love Columbia Quartette ; Charles Harrison Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19873 10-in. 4/29/1912 Lead me to that beautiful band Maurice Burkhart ; Walter Van Brunt Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 19901 10-in. 5/23/1912 Fiddle-dee-dee Lew Dockstader Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 38120 10-in. 7/8/1912 Fiddle, dee, dee Lew Dockstader Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 38222 10-in. 8/26/1912 The million dollar ball Maurice Burkhart Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 38251 10-in. 9/11/1912 Where the edelweiss is blooming Henry Burr ; Peerless Quartet ; Beulah Gaylord Young Female-male vocal duet, with male vocal quartet and orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 38483 10-in. 12/5/1912 In the shadows James Reed Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39489 10-in. 7/8/1914 My croony melody Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 39526 10-in. 8/8/1914 When honey boy and honey girl go on their honeymoon Henry Burr ; Ada Jones Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 39694 10-in. 12/15/1914 My daddy long legs Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46096 10-in. 10/12/1915 I'm simply crazy over you Samuel Ash ; Louise MacMahon Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46337 10-in. 1/12/1916 Yaaka, hoola, hickey, doola Al Jolson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46732 10-in. 4/21/1916 I've got the blues for home sweet home Oscar Shaw Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46846 10-in. 6/16/1916 By the sad Luana shore Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 47277 10-in. 1/6/1917 For me and my gal M. J. O'Connell Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 81268 10-in. 10/8/1923 So this is love Paul Specht Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 81441 10-in. 12/28/1923 So this is love Barbara Maurel Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia 81533 10-in. 2/7/1924 So this is love Loretta Higgins Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia W143418 10-in. 2/26/1927 Who'll buy my violets? Gypsy and Marta Female vocal duet lyricist  
Columbia [W]147905 10-in. 1/31/1929 The land of going to be Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia [W]148520 10-in. 5/13/1929 I love the moon Jack Carney ; Tom Clines and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia 6273 12-in. approximately 1912 There's a girl in Havana Two Bobs Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 75291 12-in. approximately 1916 Yacka hula hickey dula Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble songwriter  
OKeh S-71956 10-in. Oct. 1923 So this is love Yellow Jackets Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5107-a] 10-in. approximately mid-1917 For me and my gal Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 11968-11971 10-in. 11/26/1923 So this is love Old Colony Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick 12258-12260 10-in. 1/10/1924 So this is love Marie Tiffany Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Brunswick 12503-12505 10-in. 2/11/1924 So this is love Marie Tiffany Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E28397 10-in. approximately Nov. 1928 The land of going to be Glen Wick ; William Wirges Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E36094 10-in. 2/18/1931 Who’ll buy my violets? Brunswick Hour Orchestra Orchestra, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E36214 10-in. 3/4/1931 Who’ll buy my violets? Will Osborne and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E21859-E21861 10-in. 3/12/1927 Who’ll buy my violets? Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Edison 3313 10-in. between 9/19/1914 and 9/26/1914 My croony melody Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Edison 4548 10-in. 3/2/1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 4885 10-in. 7/18/1916 By the sad Luana shore George Wilton Ballard ; Elizabeth Spencer Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Edison 5486 10-in. 4/3/1917 For me and my gal Billy Murray Male vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7194 10-in. 3/2/1920 Who ate Napoleons with Josephine (When Bonaparte was away)? Maurice Burkhart Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 9257 10-in. 11/23/1923 So this is love Kaplan's Melodists Jazz/dance band composer  
Edison 18873 10-in. 11/16/1928 Land of Going-to-be Elinor Gail Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison N-568 10-in. 11/16/1929 Land of Going-to-be Elinor Gail Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Leeds & Catlin [L & C cat 207] 10-in. between late 1908 and early 1909 Oh! That Yankiana rag Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Goetz, E. Ray," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

Goetz, E. Ray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567.

"Goetz, E. Ray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106567

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