Larry Shay

Larry Shay (né Lawrence Fredrick Schaetzlein; 10 August 1897 Chicago – 22 February 1988 Newport Beach, California) was an American songwriter.

Shay was born in Chicago, Illinois. While still young, he studied the piano at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929 he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling" (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin).

In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hired him to become their music director and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired Bing Crosby, who was paid $50 a day by MGM for his first picture.

He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz Society in Ventura, California.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 10, 1897 (Chicago), Died February 22, 1988 (Newport Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, songwriter, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 221 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh S-72827 10-in. Sept. 1924 That's Georgia Earl Rickard Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh S-72840 10-in. Sept. 1924 Too tired Okeh Syncopators ; Harry Reser Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh S-73239 10-in. 3/16/1925 I like pie—I like cake—but I like you best of all The Goofus Five ; Ernest Hare Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh S-73490 10-in. June 1925 By the light of the stars Tickle Toe Ten ; Bruce Wallace Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh S-73499 10-in. July 1925 By the light of the stars Bruce Wallace Male vocal solo, with instrumental quintet composer  
OKeh 73616 10-in. 9/15/1925 I'm knee deep in daisies (And head over heels in love) Sam Lanin ; Melody Sheiks Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W80277 10-in. 1/3/1927 When I first met Mary Ted Wallace and his Orchestra [Ed Kirkeby Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W80398 10-in. 2/7/1927 The coat and pants do all the work (And the vest gets all the gravy) The Happiness Boys Male vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
OKeh W80445 10-in. 2/18/1927 When I first met Mary Ray-O-Vacs Male vocal duet, with piano songwriter  
OKeh W80677 10-in. 3/28/1927 Wherever you go, whatever you do (I want you to know I love you) Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with guitar composer  
OKeh W81258 10-in. 8/19/1927 Highways are happy ways Melody Sheiks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W82003 10-in. 12/3/1927 Everywhere you go Mark Fisher Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano composer  
OKeh W82075 10-in. 12/15/1927 Everywhere you go Sol S. Wagner Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W400650 10-in. 5/4/1928 Get out and get under the moon Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W400972 10-in. 6/29/1928 Just across the street from heaven Stan Thompson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio composer  
OKeh W402924 10-in. 9/11/1929 When you're smiling (The whole world smiles with you) Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh W402947 10-in. 9/11/1929 When you're smiling (The whole world smiles with you) Louis Armstrong Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
OKeh W404202 10-in. 6/4/1930 Gee, but I'd like to make you happy Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W404410 10-in. 10/3/1930 Gee, but I'd like to make you happy The Three Boswell Sisters Female vocal trio, with piano songwriter  
Brunswick 13644-13646 10-in. 7/30/1924 Too tired Margaret Young Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 15436-15437 10-in. 4/4/1925 I like pie, I like cake, but I like you best of all Campus Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 15497-15499 10-in. 4/10/1925 By the light of the stars Benny Krueger’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E27632 10-in. 6/1/1928 Get out and get under the moon Hal Kemp Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio; without vocal (take G) composer  
Brunswick E27848 10-in. 7/13/1928 Get out and get under the moon Edith Evans Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E27999 10-in. 8/8/1928 When you're smiling (The whole world smiles with you) Clevelanders Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) composer  
(Results 126-150 of 221 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Shay, Larry," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

Shay, Larry. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661.

"Shay, Larry." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111661

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