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{{short description|American actor}}
{{Short description|American actor (1899–1997)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Arthur Tracy
| name = Arthur Tracy
| image = Arthur Tracy playing his accordion, from Romantic Melodies (1932).png
| image = Arthur Tracy playing his accordion, from Romantic Melodies (1932).png
| caption = Tracy playing his [[accordion]], from ''Romantic Melodies'' (1932)
| caption = Tracy playing his [[accordion]], from ''Romantic Melodies'' (1932)
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Abba Avrom Tracovutsky
| birth_name = Abba Avrom Tracovutsky
| alias = The Street Singer
| alias = The Street Singer
| birth_date = {{birth date|1899|06|25|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1899|06|25|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Kamenetz-Podolsky]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Ukraine]])
| birth_place = [[Kamenetz-Podolsky]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Ukraine]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|10|05|1899|06|25|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|10|05|1899|06|25|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Manhattan]], [[New York City|New York]], United States
|death_place =
| instrument = Vocals [and accordion]
| instrument = Vocals [and accordion]
| genre = [[Traditional pop music|Traditional pop]], [[vocal music|vocal]]
| genre = [[Traditional pop]], [[vocal music|vocal]]
| occupation = Singer, actor
| occupation = Singer, actor
| years_active = 1920s-30s, 1982
| years_active = 1920s–1930s, 1982
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = {{Plainlist|
| associated_acts = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bing Crosby]]
* [[Bing Crosby]]
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}}
}}
[[File:Romantic Melodies (1932).webm|thumb|thumbtime=303|start=303|end=495|upright=1.5|''Romantic Melodies'' (1932)]]
[[File:Romantic Melodies (1932).webm|thumb|thumbtime=303|start=303|end=495|upright=1.5|''Romantic Melodies'' (1932)]]

'''Arthur Tracy''' (25 June 1899 &ndash; 5 October 1997)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi?letter=y&lastname=TRACY&firstname=ARTHUR&ssn=155-14-2477&birth=25+Jun+1899&death=05+Oct+1997&middlename=&namesiffix=|title=RootsWeb: Database Index|work=rootsweb.com}}</ref> was an [[United States|American]] vocalist and actor, billed as '''The Street Singer'''. His performances in theatre, films and radio, along with his recordings, brought him international fame in the 1930s. Late evening radio listeners tuned in to hear announcer David Ross' introduction ("Round the corner and down your way comes The Street Singer") and Tracy's familiar theme song, "Marta, Rambling Rose of the Wildwood."
'''Arthur Tracy''' (born ''' Abba Avrom Tracovutsky'''; June 25, 1899 – October 5, 1997)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi?letter=y&lastname=TRACY&firstname=ARTHUR&ssn=155-14-2477&birth=25+Jun+1899&death=05+Oct+1997&middlename=&namesiffix=|title=RootsWeb: Database Index|website=Rootsweb.com}}</ref> was an American vocalist and actor, billed as '''The Street Singer'''. His performances in theatre, films and radio, along with his recordings, brought him international fame in the 1930s. Late evening radio listeners tuned in to hear announcer David Ross' introduction ("Round the corner and down your way comes The Street Singer") and Tracy's familiar theme song, "Marta, Rambling Rose of the Wildwood."


==Biography==
==Biography==
Born '''Abba Avrom Tracovutsky''' in [[Kamenetz-Podolsky]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Ukraine]]), he emigrated to the [[United States]] with his parents, listed as Mordeche and Fannie Trasowitzkey, and sisters, in October 1906, as steerage passengers on the S/S ''Blücher'', from Hamburg to New York. His brother was born in 1907. After their release from the [[Ellis Island]] Immigrant station, they settled in [[Philadelphia]]. Naturalized in 1913, Tracy's parents became known as Morris and Fannie Tracy.
Born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky in [[Kamenetz-Podolsky]], [[Russian Empire]] (now [[Ukraine]]), he emigrated to the [[United States]] with his parents, listed as Mordeche and Fannie Trasowitzkey, and sisters, in October 1906;<ref name="AMG"/> they were steerage passengers on the [[SS Blücher|SS ''Blücher'']], from Hamburg to New York. His brother was born in 1907. After their release from the [[Ellis Island]] Immigrant station, they settled in [[Philadelphia]]. Naturalized in 1913, Tracy's parents became known as Morris and Fannie Tracy.


In 1917 Tracy graduated from Central High School. He began studying architecture at the University of Pennsylvania but dropped out to become a professional singer. He began singing part-time in the [[Yiddish theatre]], [[minstrel shows]] and [[vaudeville]] while working as a furniture salesman.
In 1917, Tracy graduated from Central High School. He began studying architecture at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], but dropped out to become a professional singer.<ref name="AMG"/> He began singing part-time in the [[Yiddish theatre]], [[minstrel shows]] and [[vaudeville]] while working as a furniture salesman.


After moving to New York City in 1924, he appeared regularly in vaudeville, joined the ''[[Das Dreimäderlhaus|Blossom Time]]'' touring company and appeared in various New York amateur revues, where he was seen by [[William S. Paley]] who offered him a 15-minute CBS radio program.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gussow |first=Mel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/08/arts/arthur-tracy-98-musical-star-known-as-the-street-singer.html |title=Arthur Tracy, 98, Musical Star Known as the Street Singer |work=NYTimes.com |date=1997-10-08 |accessdate=2015-09-05}}</ref>
After moving to New York City in 1924, he appeared regularly in vaudeville, joined the ''[[Das Dreimäderlhaus|Blossom Time]]'' touring company,<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|pages=2523/4}}</ref> and appeared in various New York amateur revues, where he was seen by [[William S. Paley]] who offered him a 15-minute CBS radio program.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gussow |first=Mel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/08/arts/arthur-tracy-98-musical-star-known-as-the-street-singer.html |title=Arthur Tracy, 98, Musical Star Known as the Street Singer |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=1997-10-08 |access-date=2015-09-05}}</ref>


To avoid embarrassing his family if his show failed and to prevent being blackballed from future vaudeville bookings for having appeared on radio, Tracy decided to make his identity a mystery and borrowed a billing from the title of [[Frederick Lonsdale]]'s musical ''The Street Singer'' (1924). Listeners demanded to know his identity, but it was not revealed until five months after his 1931 debut on CBS. The following year he was off to Hollywood to appear in ''[[The Big Broadcast]]'' (1932) with other radio stars, including [[Bing Crosby]], [[Kate Smith]], and the [[Boswell Sisters]]. In 1933 he performed at FDR's first inauguration.
To avoid embarrassing his family if his show failed and to prevent being blackballed from future vaudeville bookings for having appeared on radio, Tracy decided to make his identity a mystery and borrowed a billing from the title of [[Frederick Lonsdale]]'s musical ''The Street Singer'' (1924).<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Listeners demanded to know his identity, but it was not revealed until five months after his 1931 debut on CBS.<ref name="AMG"/> The following year he went to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] to appear in ''[[The Big Broadcast]]'' (1932) with other radio stars, including [[Bing Crosby]], [[Kate Smith]], and the [[Boswell Sisters]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> In 1933, he performed at [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s first inauguration.


In the short film ''[[Rambling 'Round Radio Row|Ramblin' Round Radio Row #5]]'' (1933), his last name is pronounced "Treecy".
In the short film ''[[Rambling 'Round Radio Row|Ramblin' Round Radio Row #5]]'' (1933), his last name is pronounced "Treecy".


Tracy gave his romantic interpretation to such songs as "[[When I Grow Too Old to Dream]]", "[[I'll See You Again]]", "Trees", "[[Everything I Have Is Yours (song)|Everything I Have Is Yours]]", "[[Red Sails in the Sunset (song)|Red Sails in the Sunset]]", "[[Harbour Lights (song)|Harbor Lights]]", "The Whistling Waltz", and "[[Danny Boy]]". His September 1935 recording of "[[East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)]]" is among the very first of that much recorded song. And of course, at almost every performance he sang his theme song, Marta.
Tracy gave his romantic interpretation to such songs as "[[When I Grow Too Old to Dream]]", "[[I'll See You Again]]", "Trees", "[[Everything I Have Is Yours (song)|Everything I Have Is Yours]]", "[[Red Sails in the Sunset (song)|Red Sails in the Sunset]]", "[[Harbour Lights (song)|Harbor Lights]]", "The Whistling Waltz", and "[[Danny Boy]]".<ref name="AMG"/> His September 1935 recording of "[[East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)]]" is among the first of that much recorded song. At almost every live performance he sang his theme song, "Marta".

Tracy appeared at the London Palladium in July 1935<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Era |journal=The Era |date=June 26, 1935 |page=5}}</ref> and he had an extended stay in UK. He toured the variety stages extensively over the next few years<ref>{{cite journal |title=Morecambe Guardian |journal=Morecambe Guardian |date=May 27, 1939 |page=5}}</ref> and appeared on radio. During the next four years, he made four films in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=Internet Movie Database |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870492/ |website=imdb.com |access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref> He returned to the USA in July 1939.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nottingham Journal |journal=Nottingham Journal |date=May 5, 1939 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Variety |journal=Variety |date=July 26, 1939 |page=2}}</ref> In 1967, Tracy was on holiday in the UK and he was persuaded to make a five-week variety tour<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Stage |journal=The Stage |date=June 15, 1967 |page=3}}</ref> appearing in Nottingham, Birmingham<ref>{{cite journal |title=Birmingham Daily Post |journal=Birmingham Daily Post |date=July 4, 1967}}</ref> and Liverpool.


In 1978, Arthur Tracy was crowned King of the [[Beaux Arts Ball]].<ref>[http://beauxartssociety.org/19356.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215095556/http://beauxartssociety.org/19356.html |date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref> He presided with Queen [[Hope Hampton]], the one-time silent screen star.
In 1978, Arthur Tracy was crowned King of the [[Beaux Arts Ball]].<ref>[http://beauxartssociety.org/19356.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215095556/http://beauxartssociety.org/19356.html |date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref> He presided with Queen [[Hope Hampton]], the one-time silent screen star.


Arthur Tracy's 1937 recording of "[[Pennies from Heaven (song)|Pennies from Heaven]]" was chosen from hundreds of versions for [[Pennies from Heaven (1981 film)|the 1981 movie of that name]], with [[Vernel Bagneris]] lip-synching to Tracy's voice. The film brought Tracy out of retirement, and at age 82 he returned as a cabaret singer at The Cookery in Greenwich Village in 1982. This brought a favorable review in ''[[The New York Times]]'' from John Wilson, who wrote that his vocalizing had "a delightful patina of period charm", adding that Tracy was "a spellbinder, setting a mood and scene, disarming the doubters by admitting that 'I always put all the [[Schmaltz#Derived meanings|schmalz]] I had into my songs.'"
Arthur Tracy's 1937 recording of "[[Pennies from Heaven (song)|Pennies from Heaven]]" was chosen from hundreds of versions for [[Pennies from Heaven (1981 film)|the 1981 movie of that name]], with [[Vernel Bagneris]] lip-synching to Tracy's voice. The film brought Tracy out of retirement, and at age 82 he returned as a cabaret singer at The Cookery in [[Greenwich Village]] in 1982.<ref name="AMG"/> This brought a favorable review in ''[[The New York Times]]'' from John Wilson, who wrote that his vocalizing had "a delightful patina of period charm", adding that Tracy was "a spellbinder, setting a mood and scene, disarming the doubters by admitting that 'I always put all the [[Schmaltz#Derived meanings|schmalz]] I had into my songs.'"

In 1996, Tracy was granted the [[Ellis Island Medal of Honor]].<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/arthur-tracy-mn0000613564|title=Arthur Tracy Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=October 15, 2021}}</ref> He died in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City|New York]], on October 5, 1997, at the age of 98.<ref name="AMG"/> His autobiography, ''The Street Singer'', was published posthumously.<ref name="AMG"/>


==Films==
==Films==
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[[Category:American radio personalities]]
[[Category:American radio personalities]]
[[Category:Central High School (Philadelphia) alumni]]
[[Category:Central High School (Philadelphia) alumni]]
[[Category:Vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]
[[Category:Jewish singers]]
[[Category:Jewish singers]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish Ukrainian actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:20th-century singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]

Latest revision as of 05:08, 14 November 2024

Arthur Tracy
Tracy playing his accordion, from Romantic Melodies (1932)
Tracy playing his accordion, from Romantic Melodies (1932)
Background information
Birth nameAbba Avrom Tracovutsky
Also known asThe Street Singer
Born(1899-06-25)June 25, 1899
Kamenetz-Podolsky, Russian Empire (now Ukraine)
DiedOctober 5, 1997(1997-10-05) (aged 98)
Manhattan, New York, United States
GenresTraditional pop, vocal
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
InstrumentVocals [and accordion]
Years active1920s–1930s, 1982
Romantic Melodies (1932)

Arthur Tracy (born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky; June 25, 1899 – October 5, 1997)[1] was an American vocalist and actor, billed as The Street Singer. His performances in theatre, films and radio, along with his recordings, brought him international fame in the 1930s. Late evening radio listeners tuned in to hear announcer David Ross' introduction ("Round the corner and down your way comes The Street Singer") and Tracy's familiar theme song, "Marta, Rambling Rose of the Wildwood."

Biography

[edit]

Born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky in Kamenetz-Podolsky, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), he emigrated to the United States with his parents, listed as Mordeche and Fannie Trasowitzkey, and sisters, in October 1906;[2] they were steerage passengers on the SS Blücher, from Hamburg to New York. His brother was born in 1907. After their release from the Ellis Island Immigrant station, they settled in Philadelphia. Naturalized in 1913, Tracy's parents became known as Morris and Fannie Tracy.

In 1917, Tracy graduated from Central High School. He began studying architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, but dropped out to become a professional singer.[2] He began singing part-time in the Yiddish theatre, minstrel shows and vaudeville while working as a furniture salesman.

After moving to New York City in 1924, he appeared regularly in vaudeville, joined the Blossom Time touring company,[3] and appeared in various New York amateur revues, where he was seen by William S. Paley who offered him a 15-minute CBS radio program.[4]

To avoid embarrassing his family if his show failed and to prevent being blackballed from future vaudeville bookings for having appeared on radio, Tracy decided to make his identity a mystery and borrowed a billing from the title of Frederick Lonsdale's musical The Street Singer (1924).[3] Listeners demanded to know his identity, but it was not revealed until five months after his 1931 debut on CBS.[2] The following year he went to Hollywood to appear in The Big Broadcast (1932) with other radio stars, including Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, and the Boswell Sisters.[3] In 1933, he performed at Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inauguration.

In the short film Ramblin' Round Radio Row #5 (1933), his last name is pronounced "Treecy".

Tracy gave his romantic interpretation to such songs as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", "I'll See You Again", "Trees", "Everything I Have Is Yours", "Red Sails in the Sunset", "Harbor Lights", "The Whistling Waltz", and "Danny Boy".[2] His September 1935 recording of "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" is among the first of that much recorded song. At almost every live performance he sang his theme song, "Marta".

Tracy appeared at the London Palladium in July 1935[5] and he had an extended stay in UK. He toured the variety stages extensively over the next few years[6] and appeared on radio. During the next four years, he made four films in the UK.[7] He returned to the USA in July 1939.[8][9] In 1967, Tracy was on holiday in the UK and he was persuaded to make a five-week variety tour[10] appearing in Nottingham, Birmingham[11] and Liverpool.

In 1978, Arthur Tracy was crowned King of the Beaux Arts Ball.[12] He presided with Queen Hope Hampton, the one-time silent screen star.

Arthur Tracy's 1937 recording of "Pennies from Heaven" was chosen from hundreds of versions for the 1981 movie of that name, with Vernel Bagneris lip-synching to Tracy's voice. The film brought Tracy out of retirement, and at age 82 he returned as a cabaret singer at The Cookery in Greenwich Village in 1982.[2] This brought a favorable review in The New York Times from John Wilson, who wrote that his vocalizing had "a delightful patina of period charm", adding that Tracy was "a spellbinder, setting a mood and scene, disarming the doubters by admitting that 'I always put all the schmalz I had into my songs.'"

In 1996, Tracy was granted the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.[2] He died in Manhattan, New York, on October 5, 1997, at the age of 98.[2] His autobiography, The Street Singer, was published posthumously.[2]

Films

[edit]
... aka Interval for Romance
... aka Backstage (USA)
... aka Street Singer's Serenade

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Rootsweb.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Arthur Tracy Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 2523/4. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  4. ^ Gussow, Mel (1997-10-08). "Arthur Tracy, 98, Musical Star Known as the Street Singer". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  5. ^ "The Era". The Era: 5. June 26, 1935.
  6. ^ "Morecambe Guardian". Morecambe Guardian: 5. May 27, 1939.
  7. ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Nottingham Journal". Nottingham Journal: 6. May 5, 1939.
  9. ^ "Variety". Variety: 2. July 26, 1939.
  10. ^ "The Stage". The Stage: 3. June 15, 1967.
  11. ^ "Birmingham Daily Post". Birmingham Daily Post. July 4, 1967.
  12. ^ [1] Archived December 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

References

[edit]

Listen to

[edit]
[edit]
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