Ben Light: Difference between revisions
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Light had a long career at the [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]. He started playing the [[piano]] at the age of three without a teacher, and made his professional debut at the age of seven. For 15 years, he toured as a [[vaudeville]] pianist, performing with renowned figures such as [[Al Jolson]], [[Eddie Cantor]], [[Fanny Brice]], [[Jack Benny]] and [[Sophie Tucker]].<ref>{{cite news| author =<!--not stated-->| title = World Deaths| url = https://books.google.ca/books?id=IoJiAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3&dq=Ben+Light+died&article_id=5584,671432&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl7bvP8-b_AhVkDTQIHSNBCAoQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=Ben%20Light%20died&f=false| work = The Washington Reporter |
Light had a long career at the [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]. He started playing the [[piano]] at the age of three without a teacher, and made his professional debut at the age of seven. For 15 years, he toured as a [[vaudeville]] pianist, performing with renowned figures such as [[Al Jolson]], [[Eddie Cantor]], [[Fanny Brice]], [[Jack Benny]] and [[Sophie Tucker]].<ref>{{cite news| author =<!--not stated-->| title = World Deaths| url = https://books.google.ca/books?id=IoJiAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3&dq=Ben+Light+died&article_id=5584,671432&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjl7bvP8-b_AhVkDTQIHSNBCAoQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=Ben%20Light%20died&f=false| work = The Washington Reporter |
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| date = January 9, 1965|access-date=2023-06-28| page = }}</ref> Known as a musical phenomenon, Ben Light was once timed playing 1,173 notes in a single minute.<ref>http://saxonyrecordcompany.com/ben-light.html</ref> Light was noted for his fast ragtime play and recorded over 100 piano compositions.<ref>{{cite news| author =<!--not stated-->| title = Obituaries| url = https://newspaperarchive.com/star-news-jan-09-1965-p-6/| work = Star News in Pasadena, California | date = January 9, 1965|access-date=2023-06-28| page = 6 }}</ref> He claimed to have written "[[My Melancholy Baby]]" as a teenager, but did not copyright the work.<ref>{{cite book |last=Garber |first=Michael G. |author-link= |date=June 28, 2021 |title=My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the Great American Songbook, 1902-1913 |url= |location= |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |page= |isbn=9781496834317 }}</ref> |
| date = January 9, 1965|access-date=2023-06-28| page = }}</ref> Known as a musical phenomenon, Ben Light was once timed playing 1,173 notes in a single minute.<ref>http://saxonyrecordcompany.com/ben-light.html</ref> Light was noted for his fast ragtime play and recorded over 100 piano compositions.<ref>{{cite news| author =<!--not stated-->| title = Obituaries| url = https://newspaperarchive.com/star-news-jan-09-1965-p-6/| work = Star News in Pasadena, California | date = January 9, 1965|access-date=2023-06-28| page = 6 }}</ref> He claimed to have written "[[My Melancholy Baby]]" as a teenager, but did not copyright the work.<ref>{{cite book |last=Garber |first=Michael G. |author-link= |date=June 28, 2021 |title=My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the Great American Songbook, 1902-1913 |url= |location= |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |page= |isbn=9781496834317 }}</ref><ref>http://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/m/my_melancholy_baby_m.html</ref> |
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In the late 1930s, he recorded bawdy "party" records for a low-budget jukebox label.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/artist/1606523-Ben-Light-And-His-Surf-Club-Boys</ref> He also toured with [[Cliff Edwards|Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards]] in 1938. From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, he made over 100 recordings for the [[Tempo Records (US)|Tempo]], [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], and [[X Records|X]] labels, selling millions of records.<ref>https://propermusic.com/products/benlighthislightningfingers-thespeedoflight</ref> |
In the late 1930s, he recorded bawdy "party" records for a low-budget jukebox label.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/artist/1606523-Ben-Light-And-His-Surf-Club-Boys</ref> He also toured with [[Cliff Edwards|Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards]] in 1938. From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, he made over 100 recordings for the [[Tempo Records (US)|Tempo]], [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], and [[X Records|X]] labels, selling millions of records.<ref>https://propermusic.com/products/benlighthislightningfingers-thespeedoflight</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:05, 29 June 2023
Benjamin Bertram Leight, better known by his stage name Ben Light was an American pianist. He was born on April 23, 1893, in New York City.[1]
Light had a long career at the keyboard. He started playing the piano at the age of three without a teacher, and made his professional debut at the age of seven. For 15 years, he toured as a vaudeville pianist, performing with renowned figures such as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Jack Benny and Sophie Tucker.[2] Known as a musical phenomenon, Ben Light was once timed playing 1,173 notes in a single minute.[3] Light was noted for his fast ragtime play and recorded over 100 piano compositions.[4] He claimed to have written "My Melancholy Baby" as a teenager, but did not copyright the work.[5][6]
In the late 1930s, he recorded bawdy "party" records for a low-budget jukebox label.[7] He also toured with Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards in 1938. From the late 1940s to the mid-1950s, he made over 100 recordings for the Tempo, Capitol, and X labels, selling millions of records.[8]
Ben Light died of a heart attack on January 6, 1965, in Santa Monica, California at the age of 72.[9]
References
- ^ "Deaths". New York Times. January 9, 1965. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ "World Deaths". The Washington Reporter. January 9, 1965. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ http://saxonyrecordcompany.com/ben-light.html
- ^ "Obituaries". Star News in Pasadena, California. January 9, 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ Garber, Michael G. (June 28, 2021). My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the Great American Songbook, 1902-1913. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781496834317.
- ^ http://greatamericansongbook.net/pages/songs/m/my_melancholy_baby_m.html
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/artist/1606523-Ben-Light-And-His-Surf-Club-Boys
- ^ https://propermusic.com/products/benlighthislightningfingers-thespeedoflight
- ^ Bruce Peacock (January 11, 1965). "Stage and Screen". The Leader-Post, Regina, Sask. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-06-28.