Regent Club Orchestra - The Song is Ended (1927)

The Song is Ended (but the Melody Lingers On) Words and Music by Irving Berlin Performed by the Regent Club Orchestra Arranged and Conducted by William Wirges Vocal refrain by Lewis James Recorded November 14, 1927 Brunswick 3723 The Regent Club Orchestra was an Brunswick recording group during the 1920s. According to the Brunswick discography this session was directed by William Wirges (1894 - 1971) who was also pianist with the legendary Cliquot Club Eskimos and a mainstay in the early days of radio. Born in Buffalo, Wirges served in World War I. After his return to the States, Wirges went on the road, working as piano accompanist on the so-called "Chautauqua circuit" backing up singers and vaudeville acts. Ultimately he would graduate to accompanying famous performers such as Belle Baker, Ruth Etting and Al Jolson. Around 1924, Wirges joined the orchestra led by banjoist Harry Reser, which became the Cliquot Club Eskimos on early radio. In 1925, Wirges made his first three records for Pathé as a bandleader, although the band was basically identical to the Cliquot Club Eskimos. Wirges also led many more sessions for Brunswick between 1927 and 1930, often uncredited. During the 1930s He kept busy on radio as a bandleader and formed a publishing company, William Wirges Music, Inc.. Wirges was a prolific composer, writing popular songs, sacred material, and commercial jingles. One of the jingles became Wirges' best-known number, the song "Chiquita Banana" written with lyricists Garth Montgomery and Len Mackenzie. Wirges also composed at least one extended, semi-classical choral work, "Mississippi Lament." One of the last radio shows on which Wirges worked was the popular detective drama, "Gangbusters." Lewis James (1892 - 1959) was a vocalist and among the most active of recording artists in the United States from 1917 through much of the 1930s. He was a member of the The Shannon Four, The Revelers, and The Criterion Trio. He had many top Ten hits during that time, including "My Baby Boy", "Till We Meet Again", "What'll I Do", and "Pal of My Cradle Days", among others. He recorded extensively as a tenor soloist, duet partner, and quartet lead singer. His first recording with the Shannon Four (aka the Shannon Quartet) was the World War I chestnut, "All Aboard For Home Sweet Home." Like many of his colleagues, he proved exceedingly versatile in recording love ballads, hymns, children's songs, and the more sophisticated early jazz harmonies of the Revelers with whom he made several successful European tours. His sweet melodic tenor is immortalized on Victor, Columbia, Brunswick and Edison recordings.