HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Sophie Tucker

Born Sonya Kalish in (now) Ukraine on 13 Jan 1886, Sophie Tucker was known as The Last of the Red Hot Mamas. She began her career in popular music as a ragtime singer, but also recorded a little jazz or swing from the twenties onward, backed by such as Miff Mole, Leonard Joy, Tommy Dorsey and Bob Haggart. Though not something she emphasized, she could play piano.

An infant when her family brought their future star to Hartford, Connecticut, Tucker first began performing for income in her family's restaurant, singing for tips. In 1903 she eloped with a beer wagon driver named Louis Tuck, hence her name when she later changed it. Returning home to marry Tuck in 1906, she gave birth to a son, separated from Tuck, left her child with her family, then headed for NYC where she sang in cafes to send money back home. Tucker began playing vaudeville in 1907. She sang in black face as well, largely to draw attention away from her large frame, until she lost her makeup kit on tour and was permitted to perform without it. In 1908 Tucker started performing burlesque. In 1909 she performed in that year's edition of the Ziegfeld Follies. The Ziegfeld Follies were elaborate vaudeville reviews created by Florenz Ziegfeld.

Tucker's first record release was 'The Lovin' Rag' in 1910 on cylinder per Edison 10360, followed by 'My Husband's in the City' (Edison 10366), 'That Lovin' Two-Step Man' (Edison 10411) and 'Reuben Rag' (Edison 10449). 'That Lovin' Rag' reached #3 on the charts in July of 1910. 'That Lovin' Two-Step Man' rose to #9 in November. Several more titles for Edison were issued the next year in 1911 with two rising to the Top Ten: 'That Loving Soul Kiss' (Edison 10493 in May at #8) and 'Some of These Days' (Edison Amberol 691 in July at #2). 'Knock Wood' (Edison Amberol 852) claimed the #9 position in Jan 1912.

'That Lovin' Rag' Sophie Tucker Debut recording: Edison 10360 1910

Charts: #3 July 1910

Composition: Victor Smalley / Bernard Adler

'That Lovin' Two-Step Man' Sophie Tucker Edison 10411 1910

Charts: #9 November 1910

Composition: Stanley Murphy / Percy Wenrich

'Reuben Rag' Sophie Tucker Edison 10449 1910

Listed for issue Oct 1910 in the Edison Phonograph Monthly of 1910

Composition: H. De Pierce / Joe Young / H. Norman

'Some of These Days' Sophie Tucker Edison Amberol 691

Recorded 24 Feb 1911 in NYC [MusikTitelDB]

Listed for issue 25 May 1911 in the Edison Phonograph Monthly of 1911 Charts: #2 July 1911

Composition: Shelton Brooks

'Knock Wood' Sophie Tucker Edison Amberol 852

Recorded 27 July 1911 in NYC [MusikTitelDB]

Listed for issue 25 Nov 1911 in the Edison Phonograph Monthly of 1911 Charts: #9 Jan 1912

Composition: Harry Von Tilzer / Andrew B. Sterling

In 1913 Tucker returned to Hartford where she performed at Poli’s Vaudeville Theatre and the Hartford Opera House. Come 1916 she hooked up with her Five Kings of Syncopation in a shift from ragtime to jazz, they first performing on 26 June 1916 at the Royal Theater in New York City. Tucker performed with her Five Kings as "The Queen of Jazz" through World War I into 1922. It was in the vicinity of March when she abandoned her Five Kings operation for Ted Shapiro with whom she made her first tour to London that month. Brian Rust's 'Jazz and Ragtime Records' has Tucker with her Five Kings of Jazz in New York City for 'High Brown Blues' (Okeh 4565) on 23 February 1922, which title placed at #6 on the charts in June. Of the Five Kings of Jazz listed below, Rothschild and Alvin had been prior members of the Five Kings of Syncopation.

'High Brown Blues' Sophie Tucker w her Five Kings of Jazz Okeh 4565

Recorded 23 Feb 1922 in NYC [Rust] Charts: #6 June 1922

Alto sax: Al Levine Clarinet: Irving Salow Piano: George Coon

Violin: Irving Rothschild Drums: Danny Alvin

Music: Milton Ager Lyrics: Jack Yellen

In the meantime Tucker had appeared in 'Some Mind Reader' in 1920, a Johnny Dooley silent film comedy. As mentioned, in 1922 Tucker began a partnership with pianist and composer, Ted Shapiro, that would last throughout her career. In July of 1923 Tucker's 'You've Gotta See Mama Every Night' (Okeh 4817) reach #6 on the charts. 'Aggravatin' Papa' (Okeh 4817) followed in August at #10. In 1924 'The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else' (Okeh 40054) reach #10 followed by 'Red-Hot Mama' (Okeh 40129) at #7 in September.

'Vamping Sal' Sophie Tucker w the Rega Dance Orchestra Okeh 4837

Recorded April 1923 in NYC [DAHR] Charts: #6 June 1922

Music: Lew Pollack Lyrics: Henry Creamer

'Red Hot Mama' Sophie Tucker w piano by Ted Shapiro Okeh 40129

Recorded Feb 1924 in Chicago [DAHR] Charts: #7 Sep 1924

Composition: Fred Rose / Bud Cooper

In 1926 Tucker toured to England to perform for King George V and Queen Mary at the London Palladium. Later performances in London in 1934 and 1963 included royalty in attendance. In I927 Tucker placed 'Blue River' (Okeh 40895) and 'Fifty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong' (Okeh 40813) on the charts #10 and #13 respectively. 'My Yiddishe Momme', 'The Man I Love' and 'There'll Be Some Changes Made' were among the most popular titles issued in 1928.

'Some of These Days' Sophie Tucker backed by Ted Lewis & Band Columbia 826-D

Recorded 23 Nov 1926 in Chicago [DAHR]

Composition: Shelton Brooks

'Blue River' Sophie Tucker backed by studio band of Ted Shapiro Okeh 40895

Recorded 1 Nov 1927 in Chicago [DAHR] Charts at #10

Music: George W. Meyer Lyrics: Alfred Bryan

'I Know That My Baby Is Cheatin' On Me' Sophie Tucker Issued Nov 1928 on Columbia 4995

Composition: Endor / Steinberg / Lambert

'He Hadn't Up Till Yesterday' Sophie Tucker Issued Nov 1928 on Columbia 5064

With the Ted Shapiro Orchestra

Composition: Wright / Haines / Tucker / Meskill

Tucker's first sound film appearance was in 1929 per the movie, 'Honky Tonk' in which she performed 'I'm the Last of the Red-Hot Mamas' which recording (Victor 21994) rang the popularity bell at #15. She placed well on the charts to as late as 1937 when her rendition of 'The Lady Is a Tramp' (Decca 1472) rose to #19.

'Moanin' Low' Sophie Tucker backed by the Ted Shapiro Orchestra Victor 22049

Recorded 27 June 1929 in NYC [DAHR]

Composition: Howard Dietz / Ralph Rainger

'No One But the Right Man Can Do Me Wrong' Sophie Tucker filmed live in London 1930

'Life Begins at Forty' Sophie Tucker backed by the Ted Shapiro Orchestra

Recorded 23 Nov 1936 in London [DAHR]

Issued on Decca 23033 in 1937, 1941, 1947

Issued on Decca 11047 (shellac 78) in 1952 & Decca 9-11047 (vinyl 45) in 1952

Composition: Ted Shapiro / Jack Yellen

Tucker had her own radio program w CBS for a couple of years beginning in 1938, 'The Roi Tan Program with Sophie Tucker'. She published her autobiography, 'Some of These Days', in 1945, the same year she released the 10" album on Decca, 'A Collection of Songs She Has Made Famous'. Tucker issued several albums into the sixties including 'Bigger and Better Then Ever' in 1956 on co-labels, Mercury and Wing.

'Nobody Loves a Fat Girl' From the Sophie Tucker album 'Cabaret Days' Mercury MG 20046 1954

Tucker joins Will Oakland as among the earliest recording artists whose careers spanned from early cylinders to the modern age of television. Her first appearance in that medium per IMDb had been on the new 'Starlight' show for BBC in the UK in 1936. Her first of sixteen appearances on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' arrived on 16 December 1951. Her last was aired on 3 October of 1965. She had appeared on Johnny Carson's 'Tonight Show' twice per 1963 and 1964.