Pete Wendling

Pete Wendling (June 6, 1888 – April 7, 1974) was an American composer and pianist, born in New York City to German immigrants.

He started his working life as a carpenter, but gained fame during the mid-1910s as a popular music composer, with his name appearing on the "Soup and Fish Rag" in 1913. He worked on such hits as "Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula" (recorded by Al Jolson), "Take Me To The Land Of Jazz", "Take Your Girlie To The Movies", "Felix The Cat", and "Oh What A Pal Is Mary".

Wendling was also one of the top pianists of his era, and set a long-standing record when he appeared at the London Hippodrome for eight consecutive weeks. He joined the Rhythmodik Music Roll Company in 1914, and started to record his performances on paper rolls for player pianos. In 1916 he recorded for American Piano Company (Ampico). In 1918, he joined the largest piano roll company, QRS, and rapidly became one of their most popular artists, his distinctive yet always fresh performances constantly topping their best-selling lists. They were still in production as of 2003.

He recorded two sides for Okeh Records in 1923, and in 1926, cut another four for Cameo. In 1927, QRS, who were tightening their belt due to declining sales, released Wendling, and he concentrated on his composing career until his retirement in the 1950s. In 1955, he co-wrote "I Wonder", which became a UK chart hit for both Jane Froman and Dickie Valentine. Wendling's last notable work was "Rich in Love" in 1956.

Married to Anna, he had no children. A resident of Manhattan, he died in New York City in April 1974, aged 85 after several strokes.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6, 1888, Died April 7, 1974

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, arranger, piano, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-38014 10-in. 4/27/1927 Red lips, kiss my blues away Charles Dornberger Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-38357 10-in. 4/19/1927 There's something nice about everyone, but there's everything nice about you Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal duet composer  
Victor BVE-38487 10-in. 4/22/1927 There's something nice about everyone but there's everything nice about you Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and ukulele composer  
Victor BVE-38781 10-in. 5/25/1927 Red lips (Kiss my blues away) Johnny Marvin ; Aileen Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with ukulele and orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-41379 10-in. 12/15/1927 How long has this been going on? Jack Crawford Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-41381 10-in. 12/15/1927 Nothing to lose Jack Crawford Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BVE-43665 10-in. 4/22/1928 Forget-me-not Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-50543 10-in. 3/15/1929 That's what I call sweet music Eddie Harkness Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-50575 10-in. 4/1/1929 That's what I call sweet music Ted Shapiro Orchestra ; Sophie Tucker Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor PBVE-50858 10-in. 4/25/1929 That's what I call sweet music Herman Kenin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-50957 10-in. 3/19/1929 The bee song Frank Crumit ; Julia Sanderson Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BRC-53094 10-in. 5/11/1931 Rock me in a cradle of Kalua The Southerners Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-53593 10-in. 6/28/1929 Wonderful you The Silver-Masked Tenor [i.e., Joseph M. White] Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-58171 10-in. 1/8/1930 There's danger in your eyes, cherie! Clare Hanlon ; Pennsylvanians ; Fred Waring Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-58622 10-in. 1/24/1930 There's danger in your eyes, chérie! James Melton Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor PBVE-61075 10-in. 3/2/1931 Thanks to you Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Bing Crosby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62149 10-in. 5/12/1930 Dream Avenue Bernie Cummins ; New Yorker Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62272 10-in. 6/11/1930 Swingin' in a hammock Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-62300 10-in. 6/30/1930 Swingin' in a hammock Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
Victor BVE-63166 10-in. 10/22/1930 Who's calling you sweetheart to-night Bernie Cummins ; New Yorker Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-63328 10-in. 8/6/1930 I'll be blue just thinking of you (from now on) Aileen Stanley Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-63602 10-in. 8/28/1930 I'll be blue, just thinking of you Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-63649 10-in. 9/13/1930 Just a little dance mam'selle Don Howard ; Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BVE-64372 10-in. 11/24/1930 Crying myself to sleep! Bert Lown Hotel Biltmore Orchestra ; Biltmore Trio Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal trio composer  
Victor BVE-64624 10-in. 11/18/1930 I'm tickled pink with a blue-eyed baby Red Nichols and his Big Ten ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
(Results 26-50 of 283 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wendling, Pete," accessed May 3, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

Wendling, Pete. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775.

"Wendling, Pete." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106775

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