Roaring 1920s: The Broadway Melody - Irving Kaufman & Orchestra, 1929

Irving Kaufman – The Broadway Melody (Freed-Brown) from the film “The Broadway Melody”, Imperial 1929 (American recording; British made) NOTE: Irving KAUFMAN (born 1890 in Syracuse, New York - died 1976 in Indio, California) is a popular American recording artist and vaudeville performer. Born Isidore Kaufman to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants, early in his life Irving, along with his two brothers Phillip and Jack, formed a group called The Kaufman Brothers, which performed locally before being absorbed into the popular comedy and musical group The Avon Comedy Four in 1902. In 1913, Irving was offered the opportunity to record as a backing vocalist for dance bands and began prolific recording for Victor, Columbia, Vocalion, Gennett, Edison, Harmony, as well as the dime labels (Banner, Perfect, etc.). Initially recording under his own name, he later used a number of non-Jewish pseudonyms, such as Tom Frawley, George Beaver or simply “Vocal Chorus.“ He sang in more of a vaudeville style, and although he was not considered a jazz singer, he often sang on recordings accompanied by leading jazz figures of the 1920s, including Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, the Dorsey brothers, Red Nichols, Miff Mole and Eddie Lang. His voice was considered “phonogenic“ and recorded well - both acoustically and electrically - making Kaufman one of the most prolific recording vocalists of the 1920s. He occasionally made solo recordings under his own name, which are among the collector’s rarities. Irving Kaufman retired after a heart attack in 1949 and settled in Palm Springs, California with his second wife, Belle Brooks. He recorded nothing more until 1974, when a 2-LP set entitled Reminisce With Irving Kaufman was released. It contained a selection of his old recordings, as well as some new tracks on which Kaufman sings, accompanied by his wife.