Jack Berch
Jack Berch | |
---|---|
![]() Berch and family in 1949 | |
Born | August 26, 1907 or August 26, 1911 |
Died | December 10, 1992 |
Alma mater | St. Viator College |
Occupation | Singer |
Known for | Radio programs |
Spouse | Margo Orwig |
Children | 4 |
Jack Berch(August 26, 1907 or 1911[1]– December 10, 1992) was an American baritone singer best known for hisradiovariety/talk programs[2]from 1935 to 1954.[3]
Early years[edit]
Berch was born inSigel, Illinois,where his father ran a general store.[4]Following his father's death, Berch began working after school as a stock boy in a dry goods store when he was "about 11 years old".[5]His primary and secondary education came inEffingham, Illinois.[6]
Berch graduated fromSt. Viator College.[6]During his college years, he was a dishwasher and played drums for a dance band.[4]He later worked as a door-to-door coffee salesman who sang as he approached the door of a house. When one potential customer in Youngstown, Ohio, turned out to be the wife of the manager of radio stationWKBN,that led to an audition.[2]
Radio[edit]
Berch's first job on radio was at WKBN. He had dual roles as a singer and an announcer, "introducing himself in one voice and singing in another. Then he would thank himself for the performance."[7]
He also worked atWLWin Cincinnati,WTAMin Cleveland[1]andWOAIin San Antonio.[8]
Berch was the star ofThe Jack Berch Show,a variety/talk program that was broadcast onABC,CBS,MutualandNBCat various times from 1935 to 1954.[3]His programs at times went by other names, includingThe Kitchen Pirate(1935–36) andThe Sweetheart Serenader(1939–1941).[2]A comment published in the trade publicationRadio Dailysaid, "The singing of Berch is particularly well designed to give the day a sunny sendoff."[9]
At times, he also wrote scripts and worked as an announcer and producer on other people's programs.[1]
Recording[edit]
In 1950, Berch signed a contract withRCA Victorto make recordings in both children's and popular music genres.[10]
Personal life[edit]
Berch was married to the former Margo Orwig.[11]They had a son, Jon, and daughters Carol, Shirley,[12]and Mollie.[13]
Death[edit]
Berch died on December 10, 1992, inJamaica, New York.[2]
Partial discography[edit]
- Shenanigans/The Greatest Mistake of My Life- 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 559)[14]
- The Letter I Forgot to Mail/Kemo Kimo- 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (Regent 144)[15]
- Bibbi-Di Bobba-Di Boo/Cinderella- 1950 with The Mullen Sisters and The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 20012)[16]
- Sunday School Songs (Parts I & II)- 1950 (Victor 470222)[17]
- The Teddy Bear's Picnic/Me and My Teddy Bear- 1950 with theHenri RenéOrchestra (Victor 47–0225)[18]
- The Little Lost Sheep- 1952 (Bibletone KL 221)[19]
References[edit]
- ^abcGrunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940).Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941.Variety, Inc. P. 877.
- ^abcdDeLong, Thomas A. (1996).Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960.McFarland & Company, Inc.ISBN978-0-7864-2834-2.P. 30.
- ^abDunning, John(1998). "The Jack Berch Show".On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio(Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 363.ISBN978-0-19-507678-3.RetrievedOctober 20,2019.
- ^abAlden, Ken (July 1937)."Facing the Music".Radio Mirror.8(3): 48–49.RetrievedNovember 27,2015.
- ^Berch, Jack (April 1950)."This I Believe".Radio and Television Mirror.33(5): 26–27, 104–105.RetrievedNovember 28,2015.
- ^ab"(untitled brief)".Altoona Tribune.Pennsylvania, Altoona. Altoona Tribune. March 21, 1950. p. 13.RetrievedNovember 30,2015– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Jack Berch, Young Veteran Of Air, All-Around Artist".The Paris News.Texas, Paris. May 21, 1939. p. 15.RetrievedDecember 1,2015– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Births".Billboard.April 17, 1948. p. 44.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"Program Reviews and Comments"(PDF).Radio Daily.July 20, 1937. p. 6.RetrievedDecember 2,2015.[dead link]
- ^"Music--as Written".Billboard.May 27, 1950. p. 18.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"(untitled brief)".Radio and Television Mirror.35(3): 74. February 1951.RetrievedDecember 2,2015.
- ^Berch, Jack (January 1949)."World Full of Neighbors".Radio and Television Mirror.31(2): 34–35, 83–84.RetrievedNovember 26,2015.
- ^"Happy Easter".Radio and Television Mirror.29(5): 39. April 1948.RetrievedNovember 27,2015.
- ^"Record Reviews".Billboard.December 10, 1949. p. 34.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"Record Reviews".Billboard.March 19, 1949. p. 40.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"(London Records advertisement)".Billboard.April 15, 1950. p. 31.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"Record Reviews".Billboard.October 7, 1950. p. 104.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"Record Reviews".Billboard.October 28, 1950. p. 128.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.
- ^"Albums and LP Reviews".Billboard.November 22, 1952. p. 88.RetrievedDecember 2,2015– via Google Books.