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In 1929, Cliff Edwards was playing at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles where he caught the attention of movie producer-director Irving Thalberg. He reprised many of his 1920s hits his failing health was however evident in the recordings. His last record album, Ukulele Ike, was released posthumously on the independent Glendale label. In his later years, he moved to the larger tenor ʻukulele, which was becoming popular in the 1930s.Įdwards continued to record until shortly before his death in 1971. Edwards always played American Martin ukuleles, favoring the small soprano model in his early career. Millions of ʻukuleles were sold during the decade, and Tin Pan Alley publishers added ʻukulele chords to standard sheet music. He also recorded a few "off-color" novelty songs for under-the-counter sales, including "I'm a Bear in a Lady's Boudoir", "Take Out That Thing", and "Give It to Mary with Love".Įdwards, more than any other performer, was responsible for the soaring popularity of the ʻukulele. Edwards's own compositions included "(I'm Cryin' 'Cause I Know I'm) Losing You", "You're So Cute (Mama o' Mine)", "Little Somebody of Mine", and "I Want to Call You 'Sweet Mama'". As a recording artist, his hits included "Paddlin’ Madeleine Home" (1925), " I Can't Give You Anything but Love" (1928), and the classic " Singin' in the Rain" (1929), which he introduced. That year he also featured in George and Ira Gershwin's first Broadway musical Lady Be Good, alongside Fred and Adele Astaire. In 1924, Edwards performed as the headliner at the Palace, the pinnacle of his vaudeville success. He recorded many of the pop and novelty hits of the day, including " California, Here I Come", " Hard Hearted Hannah", " Yes Sir, That's My Baby", and " I'll See You in My Dreams". He became one of the most popular singers of the 1920s, appearing in several Broadway shows. The following year he signed a contract with Pathé Records. He recorded early examples of jazz scat singing in 1922. Įdwards made his first phonograph records in 1919.
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Vaudeville headliner Joe Frisco hired Edwards as part of his act, which was featured at the Palace in New York City-the most prestigious vaudeville theater-and later in the Ziegfeld Follies.
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Edwards and Carleton made it a hit on the vaudeville circuit. He got his first break in 1918 at the Arsonia Cafe in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed a song called " Ja-Da", written by the club's pianist, Bob Carleton. He was nicknamed "Ukulele Ike" by a club owner who could never remember his name. As many places had pianos in bad shape or none at all, Edwards taught himself to play ʻukulele to serve as his own accompanist (choosing it because it was the cheapest instrument in the music shop). Louis, Missouri, and Saint Charles, Missouri, where he entertained as a singer in saloons. He left school at age 14 and soon moved to St.