Rube Bloom

Reuben Bloom(April 24, 1902 – March 30, 1976)was an American songwriter,pianist,arranger,band leader,recording artist, vocalist, and author.

Life and career

Bloom was born and died inNew York City.He wasJewish.

During his career, he worked with many well-known performers, includingBix Beiderbecke,Joe Venuti,Ruth Etting,Stan Kenton,TommyandJimmy Dorsey.He collaborated with a wide number of lyricists, includingJohnny Mercer,Ted Koehler,andMitchell Parish.

During the 1920s he wrote manynovelty pianosolos, which are still well regarded today. He recorded for the Aeolian Company's Duo-Art reproducing piano system various titles including his "Spring Fever". His first hit came in 1927 with "Soliloquy"; his last was "Here's to My Lady" in 1952, which he wrote with Johnny Mercer.In 1928, he made a number of records with Joe Venuti's Blue Four for OKeh, including five songs he sang, as well as played piano.

Bloom formed and led a number of bands during his career, most notably Rube Bloom and His Bayou Boys,which recorded three records in 1930, that were considered some of the best made early in the Depression. The Bayou Boys was an all-star studio group consisting ofBenny Goodman,Adrian Rollini,Tommy DorseyandMannie Klein.At other times, Bloom played with other bands, such as with Bix Beiderbecke andFrankie Trumbauerin the Sioux City Six and his frequent work with Joe Venuti's Blue Four.

Bloom's "I Can't Face the Music" was recorded byElla Fitzgeraldon her 1962Ververelease,Rhythm is My Business,in a swing/big band version withBill Doggett.

Bloom published several books on piano method during his lifetime.

Rube Bloom is buried in Beth David Cemetery atElmont, New York.

Folkwaysreleased an album of his andArthur Schutt's recordings.

Songs

• "Here's to My Lady" (1952) - lyrics byJohnny Mercer
• "Day In, Day Out"- lyrics byJohnny Mercer
• "Don't Worry 'Bout Me"- lyrics byTed Koehler
• "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)"- lyrics byJohnny Mercer
• "Give Me the Simple Life“- withHarry Ruby
• "Good-for-Nothin' Joe" - lyrics byTed Koehler
• "I Can't Face the Music" - lyrics byTed Koehler
• "Lost in a Dream" - lyrics byEdgar Leslie
• "Maybe You'll Be There"- lyrics bySammy Gallop
• "Out in the Cold Again"- lyrics byTed Koehler
• "Take Me"- lyrics byMack David
• "The Man from South"
• "Truckin'" (revised as "Ev'rybody's Twistin'" (Frank Sinatra, 1962)
• "What Goes Up Must Come Down"
• "Mysterious Mose"
• "Duo-Art Piano Roll #713297" Just a Bird's-Eye View "Arr and Played by Rube Bloom

Sources

• Jaques Cattell Press (Ed.):Who's who in American Music. Classical.First edition. R. R. Bowker, New York 1983.ISBN9780835217255
• Stanley Sadie, H. Wiley Hitchcock (Ed.):The New Grove Dictionary of American Music.Grove's Dictionaries of Music, New York, N.Y. 1986.ISBN978-0943818368
• Barry Dean Kernfeld:The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.Macmillan Press, London 1988.ISBN9780312113575
• Michael Cuscuna, Michel Ruppi:The Blue Note label. A Discography.Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn. 2001.ISBN9780789304933

External links

• Rube Bloom recordingsat theDiscography of American Historical Recordings.