Title: "Take Me to the Land of Jazz" Songbook

Date/Date Range :   1919

Extent: 0.1 linear feet

Abstract:

This collection contains a 1919 songbook for "Take Me to the Land of Jazz," lyrics by Bert Kalmar & Edgar Leslie, music by Pete Wendling.

Call number: MS-2192

Repository: University of Tennessee Special Collections Library, Knoxville, TN

Aquisition Information:

Collection is property of the UT Special Collections Library.

Access Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Copyright:

The copyright interests in this collection remain with the creator. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of Item], Take Me to the Land of Jazz Songbook, MS-2192. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Special Collections Library.

Collection consists of a single folder.

Bert Kalmar (1884-1947) was a comedian in vaudeville, magician, and half of the renowned songwriting team of Kalmar and Ruby with Harry Ruby. The two began working together in Tin Pan Alley in New York City, NY. Kalmar had hits on Broadway and, when the team moved to Hollywood, had hits in the movies. Some successful songs include "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "My Sunny Tennessee" (the team's first hit song), and "A Kiss to Build a Dream On."

Edgar Leslie (1885-1976) began writing songs for vaudeville but got his professional start collaborating with Irving Berlin, including "Someone's Waiting for Me (We'll Wait, Wait, Wait) " and "Let's All Be Americans Now. " Much success came with works he wrote for Al Jolson, including a song for the first "talkie" The Jazz Singer . His most well known hits include "For Me and My Gal, " used in the 1942 musical with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, and "Moon over Miami." In 1931, Leslie co-founded the Songwriters Protective Association, which evolved into the present-day Songwriters Guild of America union.

Pete Wendling (1888-1974) gained fame during the mid 1910s as a popular music composer with hits, such as "Yaka Hula, Hickey Doola" and "Felix The Cat. " He was also a top pianist and set a long-standing record when he appeared at the London Hippodrome for 8 consecutive weeks. He then started to record his performances on paper rolls for player pianos in 1914. From 1925 until his retirement in the 1950's, he concentrated on his composing career.

The three wrote several songs together, including "Take Me to the Land of Jazz," "Take Your Girlie To The Movies (If You Can't Make Love At Home)," "Oh! What A Pal Was Mary," and "All The Quakers Are Shoulder Shakers Down In Quaker Town."

This collection contains a 1919 songbook for "Take Me to the Land of Jazz," lyrics by Bert Kalmar & Edgar Leslie, music by Pete Wendling, published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. of New York City, NY. It opens with "It was down in Tennessee / That the Jazzy melody / Originated, then waited, for popularity. " The chorus states "Take me to the Land of Jazz, Let me hear the kind of blues that Memphis has. "

See The Sheet Music Collections in MS-1130 and MS-1575 for songs by Pete Wendling.

• Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.
• Dance orchestra music.