HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Ted Weems

Birth of Jazz: Ted Weems

Ted Weems

Photo: James J. Kriegsmann

Born on 26 September 1901 in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, popular Roaring Twenties bandleader, Ted Weems, played both trombone and violin. Initially studying to become a civil engineer, he changed direction when he and his brother, Art, formed a band in college and began receiving invitations from hotels throughout the nation to play at their venues. In 1921 his band played at Warren Harding's inaugural ball.

Ted and Art recorded an unissued track of 'I'm Just Wild About Harry' in NYC for Columbia in May of 1922. Not until a session on November 20 of 1923 did Weems see issue, probably in January of 1924, those with Victor: 'Covered Wagon Days' and 'Somebody Stole My Gal' (Victor 19212). The Weems brothers issued 12 more titles in 1924, gradually increasing in years thereafter. Both Music VF and TsorT have Weems erroneously charting at #11 per 'Every Day' in 1922. But Weems issued nothing in 1922 and Columbia 3590 is actually Ted Lewis & His Band [Music VF]. 'Somebody Stole My Gal', however, did even better at #1 in February of 1924. Weems and His Orchestra topped the charts three times, again for 'The Man from the South' in 1930 and his overall best-selling title, 'Heartaches' in 1947. Eighteen of Weems' releases found the Top Ten of the popularity charts:

   Somebody Stole My Gal   #1   Feb 1924
   Covered Wagon Days   #10   Feb 1924
   A Smile Will Go a Long, Long Way   #4 April   1924
   Blue Eyed Sally   #3   March 1925
   Love Bound   #6   Sep 1926
   Highways Are Happy Ways   #6   1927
   You're the Cream in My Coffee   #7   Dec 1928
   Piccolo Pete   #2   1929
   My Baby Just Cares for Me   #4   1930
   The Man from the South   #1   1930
   Walkin' My Baby Back Home #8 1931
   Talkin' to Myself   #7   1934
   Knock! Knock! Who's There   #10   1936
   Three Shif'less Skonks #9 1936
   Heartaches   #1   March 1947
   Peg o' My Heart   #5   June 1947
   I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now   #2   Aug 1947
   Mickey #3 Oct 1947

'Covered Wagon Days' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

20 Nov 1923 in Camden NJ Matrix 29014-3 Victor 19212

Weems' 1st recording to issue Charts: #10 Feb 1924

Trumpet: Art Weems / Paul Creedon Trombone: Ted Weems

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Norman Nugent / Walter Livingston / Francis Buggy

Piano: Dewey Bergman Violin: Charles Gaylord Banjo: Wes Vaughan

Tuba: George Barth Drums: Cecil Richardson

Composition: Joe Burrowes / Will Morrissey

'Somebody Stole My Gal' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

20 Nov 1923 in Camden NJ Matrix 29015-2 Victor 19212

Weems' 2nd recording to issue Charts: #1 Feb 1924

Trumpet: Art Weems / Paul Creedon Trombone: Ted Weems

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Norman Nugent / Walter Livingston / Francis Buggy

Piano: Dewey Bergman Violin: Charles Gaylord Banjo: Wes Vaughan

Tuba: George Barth Drums: Cecil Richardson

Composition: Joe Burrowes / Will Morrissey

'Blue Eyed Sally' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

23 Dec 1924 in Camden NJ Victor 19547 Charts: #3 March 1925

Composition: Al Bernard / Russel Robinson

'My Cutie's Due at Two to Two Today' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

19 July 1926 in Camden NJ Matrix 35591-2 Victor 20120

Trumpet: Art Weems / Carl Agee Trombone: Charles Stenroos

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Dick Cunliffe / Thales Taylor / Parker Gibbs

Piano: Jack O'Brien Banjo: Bill Comfort

Tuba: Louis Terman Drums / vocal: Dusty Roads

Composition: Leo Robin / Albert Von Tilzer

'I'm Going to Park Myself in Your Arms' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

19 July 1926 in Camden NJ Matrix 35592-2 Victor 20120

Trumpet: Art Weems / Carl Agee Trombone: Charles Stenroos

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Dick Cunliffe / Thales Taylor / Parker Gibbs

Piano: Jack O'Brien Banjo: Bill Comfort

Tuba: Louis Terman Drums / vocal: Dusty Roads

Composition: Alex Marr / Archie Fletcher / Bobby Heath

'She's Got It' Ted Weems and His Orchestra Vocal by Parker Gibbs

18 July 1927 in Camden NJ Victor 20829 Gramophone B-5465

Composition: Harry Akst / Benny Davis / Louis Wolfe Gilbert

'Miss Annabelle Lee' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

28 July 1927 in Camden NJ 2nd of 2 takes Victor 20846

Vocals: by Parker Gibbs / Dusty Rhodes

Composition: Lew Pollack / Sidney Clare

'Barbara' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

28 July 1927 in Camden NJ Victor 20846 Charts: #11 1927

Vocal: by Dusty Rhodes

Music: Abner Silver Lyrics: Billy Rose

'Marvelous' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

24 Aug 1927 in Camden NJ Victor 20901

Vocals: Parker Gibbs / Dusty Rhodes

Composition: May Singh Breen / Peter de Rose

'Cobble Stones' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

25 Nov 1927 in Camden NJ Victor 21105 Charts: #18 1928

Trumpet: Art Weems / Merrill Conner Trombone: Pete Beilman

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Dick Cunliffe / Joe Haymes / Parker Gibbs

Piano: Jack O'Brien Banjo: Art Jarrett

Tuba: Sam Olver Drums: Ormand Downes

Vocals: Parker Gibbs / Art Jarrett / Sam Olver

Music: Lew Pollack Lyrics: Sidney Clare

In 1928 Weems took his orchestra to Chicago where he broke into radio in the early thirties, performing on Jack Benny's 'Canada Dry', 'Fibber McGee & Molly' in the latter thirties and 'Beat the Band' in the early forties.

'You're the Cream in My Coffee' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

19 Oct 1928 in Camden NJ Victor 21767 Charts: #7 Dec 1928

Vocal: Parker Gibbs

Music: Buddy De Sylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson

'Remarkable Girl' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

13 Sep 1929 in Camden NJ Victor 22157

19 July 1926 in Camden NJ Victor 20120

Trumpet: Art Weems / Merrill Conner Trombone: Harry Turner

Reeds (clarinet / sax): Dick Cunliffe / Don Watt / Parker Gibbs

Mellophone: Dudley Fosdick Piano: Jack O'Brien Banjo: Art Jarrett

Tuba / vocal: Country Washburne Drums: Ormand Downes

Composition: Henry Creamer / Lou Handman

'Washing Dishes with My Sweetie' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

3 April 1930 in Chicago Victor 22426

Vocal: Parker Gibbs

Composition: Peter Dixon / Tom Neely / Dave Ringle

'Cheer Up, Good Times Are Comin'' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

Filmed 17 July 1930 at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City NJ

Chorus line of Norma Schutt

Music: Jesse Greer Lyrics: Raymond Klages

'The Boulevard of Broken Dreams' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

5 Dec 1933 in Chicago Bluebird B5288

Vocal: Elmo Tanner

Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin

After touring with Fred Carlone for three years Perry Como signed on with Weems' orchestra to make his first recording, 'You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes', in 1936.

'You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

15 May 1936 in Chicago Decca 820

Vocal: Perry Como 1st recording to issue

Composition: Milton Ager / Murray Mencher / Charles Newman

'When a Lady Meets a Gentleman Down South' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

6 Aug 1936 in Chicago Decca 885

Vocal: Red Ingle

Composition: Dave Oppenheim / Jacques Krakeur / Michael Cleary

'Heartaches' is a title that Weems first recorded in 1933 toward issue on Bluebird 5131. He put away a slower version in 1938 toward Decca 2020. Both featured the virtuosic whistling of Elmo Tanner. In 1947 Bluebird 5131 was reissued on RCA Victor 20-2175. Decca 2020 was likewise reissued on Decca 25017. 'Billboard' tallied both as if they were a single release and 'Heartaches' topped the charts at #1 in March of 1947 [RYM].

'Heartaches' Ted Weems and His Orchestra

23 Aug 1938 in Los Angeles Decca 2020

1 of 2 reissues in 1947 Unknown which, if not both, charted at #1 in March 1947

Whistling: Elmo Tanner

Music: Al Hoffman Lyrics: John Klenner

In 1942 Weems and his whole band joined the Merchant Marine, his orchestra then to become the Merchant Marine Band until 1945 (two band members killed). Weems then toured the States until 1953 when he took employment as a disc jockey in Memphis, then a manager for Holiday Inn.