Morse was a popular recording artist, songwriter and actress during the 20s and early 30s. She had her debut in vaudeville on the West Coast around 1920 and performed in several revues on Broadway. In 1924 she began to record under her own name for Pathé Actuelle. She worked with the best white jazz musicians of the era. Morse was an excellent and unique singer. Morse's career faded in the early 1930s. In the late 1940s she tried a comeback and briefly had a local radio show in upstate New York. She recorded one last record in 1950, and died four years later. This jazzier performance than most other versions, credited Lee Morse & Bluegrass Boys was recorded in 1930. It is particularly interesting too because it includes the verse. Phil Spitalny (1890, Tetiev, Ukraine, Russian Empire [now independent Ukraine] - 1970, Miami Beach, Florida) was a musician, music critic, composer and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose to fame after he brought together an orchestra with only female musicians, a novelty at the time. On radio, Spitalny was introduced as Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra featuring Evelyn and her Magic Violin. The magic violinist was Evelyn Kaye Klein, who used the professional name, Evelyn Silverstone. She helped Spitalny selecting the femal musicians. Spitalny's 22-piece band was known as the Hour of Charm Orchestra during the time it appeared on the radio program. Evelyn Kaye Klein and Spitalny married in June 1946. Spitalny appeared in at least ten musical shorts and two features. Spitalny's radio fame earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This version, recorded in 1930 (with Bill Coty on vocal), was credited Hotel Pennsylvania Music although this pseudonym usually referred to Jack Albin’s band. Albin did record this song too, but under his “Clevelanders” pseudonym.
Comments