Richard Himber
Source: Songbook
Born Herbert Richard Imber on 20 February 1900 in Newark, New Jersey, violinist and sweet swing bandleader, Richard Himber, had been sent to military school when he was fifteen, from which he ran away to New York City to play violin in Sophie Tucker's Five Kings of Syncopation. He next worked vaudeville and in Tin Pan Alley before becoming a booking manager for Rudy Vallée.
Himber first recorded in 1933 for Vocalion as Dick Himber, 'It Isn't Fair' among his first tracks, thought to have been with the orchestra of Isham Jones. Himber contributed to the music and lyrics of that, a title with which numerous musicians also scored high on the charts. The version with Jones (below) reached #4. Dinah Washington took it to #5 in 1950, Sammy Kaye to #2 the same year [Music VF]. 'It Isn't Fair' was Himber's theme song with which he opened performances by his own orchestra.
'It Isn't Fair' Richard Himber (violin) w Isham Jones and his Orchestra
24 July 1933 in Camden NJ Matrix BS-76734 Victor 24367
Vocal: Rita Smith
Composition: Sylvester Sprigato / Frank Warshauer / Richard Himber
'Life's So Complete' Richard Himber (violin) w Isham Jones and his Orchestra
24 July 1933 in Camden NJ Matrix BS-77841 Victor 24437
Vocal: Joe Martin
Composition: Johnny Mercer / Richard Himber
A good parcel of Himber's recording career consisted of radio transcriptions due to his main claim to fame as a hotel operation in New York City, performing at various others throughout the years. Himber was also a magician, often performing sleight of hand during performances with his band. He is thought to have begun recording as Richard with his Ritz-Carlton Orchestra in New York City per the Johnny Mercer composition, 'When a Woman Loves a Man', on 19 March 1934, backing vocalist, Joey Nash, with whom Himber worked from 1933 to 1935. Nash was replaced by Stuart Allen who first sang with Himber's orchestra on July 27, 1935 for 'Me and the Moon' (Handman / Hirsch). Himber supported Allen into 1939, replaced by Johnnie Johnston. Others who sang with Himber's orchestras were Guy Russell, Dolores Gray, Joseph Lilley and Johnny Mercer.
On 5 October 1934 Joey and Himber's Ritz-Carlton Orchestra put up 'If I Had a Million Dollars' which rose to #12 on the charts [Music VF]. Himber never topped the charts at #1, but several of his releases breached the Top Ten:
Stars Fell on Alabama #2 w Joey Nash
1934
Footloose and Fancy Free #10
w Stuart Allen 1935
Just One of Those
Things #10 w Stuart Allen 1935
Cling to Me
#6 w Stuart Allen 1936
In the
Chapel in the Moonlight
#7 w Stuart Allen 1936
Tormented
#10 w Stuart Allen 1936
You Hit
the Spot
#9 w Stuart Allen 1936
Day After
Day
#4 w Stuart Allen 1938
'Stars Fell on Alabama' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
5 Oct 1934 in Camden NJ Matrix BS-84439 Victor 24745
See also the compilation RCA AXM2-5520 / Bluebird AXM2-5520 of 1975
Vocal: Joey Nash
Music: Frank Perkins Lyrics: Mitchell Parish
'Say When' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
23 Oct 1934 in NYC Matrix BS-84746 Victor 24764
See also the compilation RCA AXM2-5520 / Bluebird AXM2-5520 of 1975
Vocal: Joey Nash
Music: Ray Henderson Lyrics: Ted Koehler
'Winter Wonderland' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
23 Oct 1934 in NYC Matrix BS-84749 Victor 24757
See also the compilation RCA AXM2-5520 / Bluebird AXM2-5520 of 1975
Vocal: Joey Nash
Music: Felix Bernard Lyrics: Richard Smith
'Richard Himber & His Orchestra' Richard Himber and His Orchestra Film
Vitaphone reel 1758 released 3 Nov 1934 featuring:
'It Isn't Fair' sung by Joey Nash
'Jig Time'
'Chanson Bohémienne'
'Tea at the Ritz' sung by Joey Nash
'Green Eyes' danced by Bernhardt & Graham
'The Magic of Music' Richard Himber and His Orchestra Film
Paramount film directed by Fred Waller Released 17 June 1935 featuring:
'It Isn't Fair'
'Please'
'Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie' sung by Kathryn Kane as Sugar Cane
'Waltz of the Flowers'
'Monday in Manhattan' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
19 June 1935 in NYC Matrix BS-92291 Victor 25074
Vocal: Stuart Allen
Composition: Richard Himber / Elliot Grennard
'You Hit the Spot' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
21 Oct 1935 in NYC Matrix BS-95538 Victor 25189
Vocal: Stuart Allen
Composition: Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
'So This Is Heaven' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
13 Jan 1936 in NYC Matrix BS-98834 Victor 25235
Vocal: Stuart Allen
Music: Harold Spina Lyrics: Johnny Burke
'Every Once in a While' Richard Himber and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra
6 April 1936 in NYC Matrix BS-101063 Victor 25293
Vocal: Stuart Allen
Music: Harold Spina Lyrics: Johnny Burke
'Himber Harmonies' Richard Himber and His Orchestra Film
Paramount film directed by Leslie M. Roush Released 16 Feb 1938 featuring:
'It Isn't Fair'
'True Confession' sung by Alice Marion
'St. Louis Blues'
'Blossoms on Broadway' sung by Stuart Allen
'Day After Day' Richard Himber and his Rhythmic Pyramids Orchestra
10 Nov 1938 in NYC Matrix BS-028939 Victor 26106
Vocal: Stuart Allen
Music: Richard Himber Lyrics: Bud Green
'Whose Theme Song?' Richard Himber and his Orchestra
5 Dec 1940 in NYC Matrices: Part 1 68450 / Part 2 68451 Decca 3578
'I Know Why' Richard Himber and his Orchestra
26 June 1941 in Los Angeles Matrix DLA 2465 Decca 3896
Vocals: Johnnie Johnston and the Joseph Lilley Ensemble
Composition: Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
DAHR drops Himber after 1941, though lists several titles gone down in October 1957 including 'Blue Moon', 'Tonight', 'In That Hat', 'Today Is My Day' and 'That's My Baby'. Himber died in New York City on 11 December 1966.
Sources & References for Richard Himber:
VF History (notes)
Audio of Himber: Internet Archive
Collections: Songbook Library & Archives
Himber in Film: IMDb
Recordings by Himber: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS
Recordings by Himber: Compilations:
Richard Himber & His Orchestra 1938-1939-1940 (Circle Records / 1994)
Richard Himber and His Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Featuring Joey Nash 1934-1935 (RCA AXM2-5520 / Bluebird AXM2-5520 / 1975)
Recordings by Himber: Sessions:
DAHR (1933-40)
DAHR (1940-57)
Tom Lord Jazzography: 5 sessions 1936-40
Authority Search: VIAF
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