Bee Walker
Encyclopedia
Bertha Walker (1898-1987) was an American composer and pianist.
Born as Bertha Wolpa in Indianapolis
, Indiana, she became a ragtime
pianist, demonstrating tunes in the music section of Woolworths
stores, and recorded many piano roll
s for the US Music Company of Chicago and occasionally for the Rythmodik Music Corporation of New York, revealing an extremely original style. It was while working for Woolworths that a talent scout discovered her and, eventually, secured her work as accompanist to such vaudeville
performers as Bob Hope
and Eddie Cantor
.
Prior to 1923 she changed her name to Bertha Walker and cut a few rolls for the Ampico
reproducing piano system and also the Aeolian Company
, both in New York
.
During the 1950s she toured extensively with ASCAP, entertaining the US troops.
She also composed music during her career, starting with Nutty Blues in 1918, but her most famous composition is Hey! Jealous Lover, written in collaboration with Sammy Cahn
and Kay Twomey
in 1956 and made famous by Frank Sinatra
.
Born as Bertha Wolpa in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana, she became a ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
pianist, demonstrating tunes in the music section of Woolworths
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
stores, and recorded many piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s for the US Music Company of Chicago and occasionally for the Rythmodik Music Corporation of New York, revealing an extremely original style. It was while working for Woolworths that a talent scout discovered her and, eventually, secured her work as accompanist to such vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performers as Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
.
Prior to 1923 she changed her name to Bertha Walker and cut a few rolls for the Ampico
Ampico
American Piano Company was an American piano manufacturer located in East Rochester, New York, which was known from the beginning for the production of high quality player pianos. The company was established in 1908 under the aegis of Wm. Knabe & Co...
reproducing piano system and also the Aeolian Company
Aeolian Company
The Æolian Company was a manufacturer of player organs and pianos.- History :It was founded by New York City piano maker William B. Tremaine as the Æolian Organ & Music Co. to make automatic organs, and, after 1895, as the Æolian Co. automatic pianos as well. The Æolian Company was a...
, both in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
During the 1950s she toured extensively with ASCAP, entertaining the US troops.
She also composed music during her career, starting with Nutty Blues in 1918, but her most famous composition is Hey! Jealous Lover, written in collaboration with Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
and Kay Twomey
Kay Twomey
Kathleen G. "Kay" Twomey is an American songwriter and music arranger. Twomey co-wrote Serenade of the Bells, which reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on November 7, 1947 and lasted 16 weeks on the chart, peaking at #3, and in a separate recording reached the Billboard's Best Seller...
in 1956 and made famous by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
.
External links
- Bertha Walker rolls on pianola.co.nz