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 201-225 of 283 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W81817 10-in. 11/11/1927 How long has this been goin' on? Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W400715 10-in. 5/28/1928 Chilly pom pom pee Fred Hall ; Sugar Babies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo arranger  
OKeh W400770 10-in. 6/8/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
OKeh W400776 10-in. 6/11/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio composer  
OKeh W401554 10-in. 1/24/1929 There's a four leaf clover in my pocket (And a horse shoe over my door) Fred Hall ; Sugar Babies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W403657 10-in. 1/21/1930 There's danger in your eyes, chérie Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W403793 10-in. 3/3/1930 There's danger in your eyes, chérie Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh [W]404204 10-in. 6/6/1930 Swingin' in a hammock Ray Seeley Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W404235 10-in. 6/24/1930 Swingin' in a hammock Seger Ellis Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W404389 10-in. 8/29/1930 I don’t mind walkin' in the rain The Mariners' Trio Male vocal trio, with guitar and piano composer  
OKeh W404513 10-in. 10/28/1930 I'll be blue, just thinking of you Smith Ballew Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio composer  
OKeh W404559 10-in. 11/19/1930 I'm tickled pink with a blue-eyed baby Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W404574 10-in. 12/18/1930 Crying myself to sleep Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh [OK cat 1065-A] 10-in. approximately June-July 1918 I miss the Mississippi Miss Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 5254-a] 10-in. approximately Aug. 1918 Oh how I wish I could sleep until my Daddy comes home Henry Burr Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 3277-3278 10-in. approximately Dec. 1919 Oh! What a pal was Mary Charles Hart Male vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 6603-6605 10-in. approximately Oct. 1921 Monastery bells Castlewood Marimba Band Marimba band composer  
Brunswick 8263-8265 10-in. approximately June 1922 Whenever you're lonesome Gene Rodemich’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano trio songwriter  
Brunswick 8913-8914 10-in. approximately Oct. 1922 He loves it Margaret Young Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E27981 10-in. 8/6/1928 Don’t keep me in the dark, Bright Eyes Kenn Sisson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E28197 10-in. 9/11/1928 Chilly pom pom pee Victorian Syncopators Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick E29244 10-in. Feb. 1929 There's a four-leaf clover in my pocket (And a horse-shoe over my door) Colonial Club Orchestra [Bob Haring Orchestra] ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E29324 10-in. Feb. 1929 There’s a four-leaf clover in my pocket (And a horseshoe over my door) Wendell W. Hall Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E29779 10-in. May 1929 Me and the clock (Tick-i-ty tock and you) Roy Ingraham Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E29960 10-in. May 1929 Wonderful you Castlewood Marimba Band Marimba band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) composer  
(Results 201-225 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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