1923 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

Al Jolson
Toot Toot Tootsie
Jolson would sing this song in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer. This film was the first feature-length movie to have talking sequences. The song has been recorded by such artists as Brenda Lee and The Supremes. In 1991 it was recorded by Brent Spiner TV’s Data on Star Trek The Next Generation.

Benny Kreuger and his Orchestra
I Cried for You
A popular song that would be recorded by many artists including Count Basie, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

Bill Murray and Ed Smalle
That Old Gang of Mine
The song is about the ending of childhood friendships as we move into adulthood. The song’s original title was Wedding Bells are Breaking up That Old Gang of Mine and has been recorded by such artists as Dean Martin and The Four Aces.

Paul Whiteman
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
The song was originally composed in 1897 by German composer Leon Jessell. In 1905 Jessell arranged the piece for Orchestra and had it re-published. In 1922 lyrics were written for the piece by Ballard Macdonald. Recorded by Paul Whiteman in 1923 it would soon become more of a Christmas song as time went by. The song has been used in a Betty Boop Cartoon and as a Disney short (see YouTube link) It has been recorded at least ten times by The Boston Pops. Harry Connick Jr. recorded it with the lyrics for his Christmas album and the piece is used annually by the Rockettes for their Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Van and Schenck
Carolina in the Morning
The song was written by Walter Donaldson (music) and Gus Kahn (lyrics) for the musical revue The Passing Show of 1922. I t was performed by William Frawley, Fred Mertz of I Love Lucy, who would later perform it along with Vivian Vance, Ethel Mertz, in an episode of the show. The song would be revived regularly as a standard into the 1950s. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore would use the song in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. 

Top Artists and Songs of 1923