Cliff Edwards

b. 14 June 1895, Hannibal, Missouri, USA, d. 18 Ju

This diminutive, soft-voiced singer became universally known as "Ukelele Ike", and popularized that instrument during his successful vaudeville career in the early 20s. Before that he had worked in carnivals, St. Louis saloons, and in Chicago with comedian Joe Frisco. As well as vaudeville, Edwards appeared in several Broadway musicals including Lady, Be Good! (1924), with Adele and Fred Astaire (in which he sang "Fascinating Rhythm"), Sunny (1925), Ziegfeld Follies Of 1927 and George White's Scandals Of 1931. The beginning of his film career coincided with the transition from silents to "talkies", and he is reputed to have made over 60 films, which included musicals, romantic comedies and dramas such as Hollywood Revue Of 1929 (1929) in which he introduced the Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown song, "Singin' In The Rain", Parlor, Bedroom And Bath (1931) with Buster Keaton, Hell Divers (1932), Take A Chance (1933) in which he sang "It's Only A Paper Moon", George White's Scandals (1934) and George White's 1935 Scandals (1935). He had a string of hits between 1924 and 1933 with songs such as "It Had To Be You", "All Alone", "Who Takes Care Of The Caretaker's Daughter?", "If You Knew Susie", "Paddlin' Madelin' Home", "Remember", "Dinah", "Sunday", "I'm Tellin' The Birds And Bees (How I Love You)", "Together", "Mary Ann" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love'. On many records he was joined by top instrumentalists such as Jimmy Dorsey, Miff Mole and Red Nichols, and was credited with playing the kazoo, though it is fairly certain that it was a vocal effect, unaided by any instrument. In the early 30s Edwards" career waned, but was revived in 1940 when he provided the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney's animated classic, Pinocchio. Two of the movie's most popular numbers, "Give A Little Whistle" and "When You Wish Upon A Star" (which won an Oscar for "Best Song'), were Edwards" first hits for seven years, and his last US chart entries. In 1941 he became the voice of another Disney cartoon character, Jim Crow, in Dumbo, and despite poor health and alcohol problems, continued to work for the studio, recording children's songs, and making appearances in the television series, Mickey Mouse Club.

Discography:

Discography:

Vintage Recordings Of Ukulele Ike 1922-44 1998
Ukulele Ike 1996
Singin' In The Rain 1995