HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Smith Ballew

Birth of Jazz: Smith Ballew

Smith Ballew

Born in Palestine, Texas on 21 January 1902, vocalist, bandleader and film star, Smith (Sykes) Ballew, studied art in high school until switching to music at the University of Texas in Austin. He recorded his first two tracks c May 25, 1923, playing banjo on 'My Sweetie Went Away' and 'I Cried For You' in New York City [Lord]. That was with Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra. Later that year he played banjo on several tunes by Jimmie's Joys led by Jimmy Maloney. That was a university band after which Ballew formed the Texajazzers in 1925 to perform in the Texas region.

'My Sweetie Went Away' Smith Ballew at banjo in Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra

First recording c 25 May 1923 in NYC Matrix 8385-B Gennett 5167

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Phil Napoleon Clarinet / tenor sax: Jimmy Lytell

Composition: Lou Handman / Roy Turk

'I Cried for You' Smith Ballew at banjo in Howard Lanin's Arcadia Orchestra

Second recording c 25 May 1923 in NYC Matrix 8386-B Gennett 5167

Cornet: Red Nichols Trumpet: Phil Napoleon Clarinet / tenor sax: Jimmy Lytell

Composition: Abe Lyman / Arthur Freed / Gus Arnheim

'Wolverine Blues' Smith Ballew at banjo w Jimmie's Joys

Recorded c Oct 1923 in Los Angeles Arcadia 2017D

Cornet: Rex Preis Trombone: Jack Brown Clarinet: Jimmy Maloney

Piano: Lynn Harrell Tuba: Johnny Cole Drums: Dick Hamel

Music: Jelly Roll Morton 1923 Lyrics: Benjamin & John Spikes

Ballew got his major break in Chicago in 1927, invited by Ben Pollack to join his band. Unfortunately he responded to another invitation in 1928, this time by Ted Fio Rito, to come join his band in New York City. When he got there with no money there was no job either, and he ended up busking on the streets. He found assistance later that year from the Dorsey Brothers who introduced him to the New York City jazz scene. Ballew next recorded in 1928, age 26, with Meyer Davis. He also worked with the Dorseys in the Davis operation before they split apart to form each their own orchestras in 1929. This was Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators which also issued records under various pseudonyms such as Davy's Broadway Syncopators and the Midnight Broadcasters. Ballew sings vocals w Meyer's orchestra in all 1928 titles below stacked per Brunswick or Duophone matrix numbers.

'When Summer Is Gone' Smith Ballew w Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators

Session recorded c Oct 1928 in NYC Matrix E28372 Brunswick 4134

Music: Monte Wilhite Lyrics: Charlie Harrison

'My Old Girl's My New Girl Now' Smith Ballew as Eddy Thomas

Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators

Session recorded 12 Oct 1928 in NYC Matrix E28471 Brunswick 4112

Arrangement: Tex Brewster Music: Cliff Friend Lyrics: Irving Caesar

'Blue Grass' Smith Ballew w Davy's Broadway Syncopators

(Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators)

Recorded c Nov 1928 in NYC Matrix E28630 Duophoe D4021

Session: DAHR / Ross Laird / Brian Rust (personnel)

Music: Ray Henderson Lyrics: Lew Brown / B.G. De Sylva

'Buy Buy for Baby' Smith Ballew w the Cross Roads Inn Orchestra

(Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators)

Session recorded c Nov 1928 in NYC Matrix E28645 Duophone D4044

Music: Joseph Meyer Lyrics: Irving Caesar

'She's Wonderful' Smith Ballew w the Parkway Inn Orchestra

(Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators)

Session recorded c 8 Nov 1928 in NYC Matrix E28648 Duophone D4017

Music: Walter Donaldson Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'Do You?' Smith Ballew w the Midnight Broadcasters

(Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators)

Session recorded c Nov 1928 in NYC Matrix E28657 Duophone D4034 / D4046

Music: Harry Tobias Lyrics: Benée Russell / Jack Yellen

'Jo Anne' Smith Ballew w Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators

Session recorded 13 or 14 Nov 1928 in NYC Matrix E28751 Duophone D4034

Composition: Abner Silver / Maceo Pinkard / Joe Ward

It was 1929 when Ballew formed his own orchestra with assistance from Jean Goldkette. Not much later he began to lend his talents to Hollywood as a singing cowboy. Though he worked as a film star into the fifties DAHR lists his latest known session on 29 November 1937 toward such as 'Stars Over the Desert' (Decca 1930) and 'Along a Texas Trail' (Decca 1666).

'Sing You Sinners' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra

Recorded 15 April 1929 in NYC Okeh 41384 / Parlophone R 724 / Odeon ONY 36051

Reaches #18 on popularity charts

Music: William Frank Harling Lyrics: Sam Coslow

'Huggable Kissable You' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra as Jack Blue's Texans

Recorded 19 April 1929 in NYC Banner 6381-B / Regal 8779-B

Trumpet: Mickey Bloom Guitar: Carl Kress Composition: Irving Bibo

'Same Old Moon' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra

Recorded 6 Sep 1929 in NYC Victor 22147

Composition: Cliff Friend

'Dream a Little Dream of Me' Smith Ballew w the Teddy Raph Orchestra

Recorded 6 April 1931 in NYC Columbia 2450-D

Music: Fabian Andre / Wilbur Schwandt Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'Time on My Hands' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra as His Piping Rock Orchestra

Recorded 25 Sep 1931 in NYC Columbia 2544

Ballew's best-performing title at #6 on popularity charts

Music: Vincent Youmans Lyrics: Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon

'I Won't Dance' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra

Recorded 26 February 1935 in NYC Matrix 16919

Issued internationally on various labels In U.S. on Side B of Banner 33376 & Perfect 16089

Music: Jerome Kern 1935 Lyrics: Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh

'Lovely to Look At' Smith Ballew & His Orchestra

Recorded 26 February 1935 in NYC Matrix 16920

Issued internationally on various labels In U.S. on Side A of Banner 33376 & Perfect 16089

Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics: Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh

'Rawhide' Smith Ballew w Lou Gehrig (baseball) Film 1938

Ballew in the role of lawyer, Larry Kimball Directed by Ray Taylor

Including 'A Cowboy's Life' by Charles Rosoff & Eddie Cherkose

Ballew withdrew from both movies and music in the early fifties, obtaining employment in public relations with General Dynamics, with which he remained until retiring from that in 1967. He died on 2 May 1984 in Longview, Texas.

Sources & References for Smith Ballew:

Apple Music

Eugene Chadbourne (All Music)

Hometown by Handlebar

Parabrisas

John H. Slate

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Charts (popularity): Music VF

Film: IMDb

Recordings: Catalogs:

45 Worlds (Ballew)