[Dixielandjazz] Soprano (Ukulele) banjo movie star?

[Stan Brager]

Regarding Rudy Vallee, his main instruments were the clarinet and the alto
sax. Later, he added singing to his resume. During the late 1920's, he began
a career in the movies playing roles associated with college and, if memory
serves me, played a ukulele for solo outings and singing with his band on
other occasions. He can be seen in mid-30's musicals "George White's
Scandals" and "Sweet Music". The screen suited Vallee well and he continued
to be in movies and television for the rest of his life.

Stan
Stan Brager
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hal Vickery" <hvickery at svs.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 6:47 PM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Soprano (Ukulele) banjo movie star?


> Ukelele Ike was the nickname for singer/actor/comedian/voice-over artist
> Cliff Edwards.  He introduced the song "Singing in the Rain" in the MGM
> musical revue "Hollywood Review of 1929."  His voice was heard as a dying
> soldier in "Tone with the Wind."  He was also the voice of Jiminy Cricket
in
> Disney's "Pinocchio" and in many short subjects and animated Disney TV
shows
> into the '70s.
>
> He also was the comic-relief sidekick in a number of Charles Starret B
> westerns and later had the same role opposite Tim Holt.
>
> In the '20s he made a number of records as "Cliff 'Ukelele Ike' Edwards
and
> His Hot Combination."  The "Hot Combination" was often a group led by Red
> Nichols.
>
> Still I don't think this is the guy.  Edwards only played uke as far as I
> know, and he wasn't from Europe.  He was born in Hannibal, MO.
>
> As for Rudy Vallee, I thought he played sax.  My first thought was Roy
> Smeck, but I don't think I ever heard him sing.
>
> Hal Vickery
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
> [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of
> rahberry at comcast.net
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 6:08 PM
> To: David Richoux; DJML Jazz
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Soprano (Ukulele) banjo movie star?
>
> Wasn't there a performer called "Ukelele Ike" whom Tiny Tim seemed to by
> copying?
>    Rae Ann
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: David Richoux <tubaman at tubatoast.com>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > A caller to my radio show asked if I remembered a 1930-50s era male
> > movie star who played the soprano banjo and sang. The listener said
> > he was from the former Czechoslovakia and remembered seeing the films
> > when he was a child. He could not remember if the person was American
> > or from Europe.
> >
> > I have done some web searches with no clear results.
> >
> > Any  ideas?
> >
> > Dave Richoux
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
>
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