[Dixielandjazz] The Story of Bei Mir Bist du Schein

[Ed Berlin]

Regarding Bob Ringwald's telling of the Bei Mir Bist du Schoen story:

I heard music publisher Lou Levy, Patti Andrews' husband, comment on the
peculiarity of three Catholic girls turning a Yiddish song into a nationwide
hit.  They recorded the song on Nov. 24, 1937, according to Wikipedia.  By
the following January it was a major hit, performed by many musicians.  The
*NY Times* commented on Jan 16, 1938: "What is there about such a song as
'Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,' a Benny Goodman swing rendition or an Ethel Merman
vocalizing that arouses such wide radio popularity?"  The Jan 22 *Amsterdam
News* noted it was performed by vocalist Monette Moore & pianist Hazel
Scott. In the same issue, the *Amsterdam News *reported that Ella Fitzgerald
sang it with Chick Webb's band, & in so doing beat out Billie Holiday &
Count Basie. On Jan. 24, the *NY Times* commented on an Alec Templeton
improvisation that included elements of Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# Minor,
Stravinsky's *Fire Bird*, Liszt's *Liebestraum*, "Alexander's Ragtime Band,"
& "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen." The song seems to have attracted everyone's
attention.

Ed Berlin