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Crazy Words, Crazy Tune

Frank Crumit

Frank Banta , Frank Crumit, Frank Garisto

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This recording was made in New York City on January 11th 1927 featuring Frank Crumit ukulele & vocals, Frank Garisto lute, and Frank E Banta piano.

*"Crazy Words Crazy Tune" was composed by Milton Ager, with lyrics by Jack Yellen.

Frank Crumit was born in Jackson, Ohio on September 26th 1889. After briefly attending an Indiana military academy, he entered Ohio University and later Ohio State. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. By 1913, he performed on the vaudeville stage, first with a trio and then a year later on his own, playing ukulele and singing his favorite songs; he was referred to as "the one-man glee club" in New York City's night spots. He moved up to Broadway in 1918 to appear in the musical "Betty Be Good". He was a big success there and went on to Greenwich Village Follies of 1920, which featured his hit song, "Sweet Lady".

Crumit began making records for Columbia in 1919. Unfortunately, but his soft vocal was not suited to acoustic recording. This changed when a new recording method introduced the microphone to the industry in the mid 20's, able to better capture his rich tenor voice. He then commenced producing a series of records featuring the traditional ballads in addition to a number of his own compositions.

He met Julia Sanderson in 1921 and began working with her on stage and radio. Crumit was known for his humorous material, particularly his puns. The pair married in 1927 and moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts. They intended to leave show business, but by 1928 they were performing together on radio as the "Singing Sweethearts of the Air." From Massachusetts, Crumit and Sanderson drove to New York City, a four-hour trip, twice a week to do their radio show. Their nationally-produced radio broadcast was aired over WLW in Cincinnati.

In 1930 they continued with a popular quiz show, "The Battle of the Sexes" which ran for thirteen years until Crumit's death from a heart attack on September 7th 1943.