Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CLARK, Buddy

(b Samuel Goldberg, 26 July 1912, Dorchester MA; d 1 October 1949, Los Angeles CA) Superior singer with big bands. Attended law school, turned to music '32; radio work and freelance recording began immediately, including Benny Goodman Let's Dance radio show '34-5, own 15-minute spots, Your Hit Parade '36-8, Wayne King, Vincent Lopez, own show Here's To Romance early '40s, The Contented Hour '45-6 (with Percy Faith orchestra); and there was also film work: his voice was for Jack Haley in Wake Up And Live '37, for Mark Stevens in I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now '47, also Melody Time '48, Song Of Surrender '49.

He was a CBS staff singer; recorded with Goodman, King, Eddy Duchin, others, often without label credit; under his own name on Varsity '40 with a septet including Pee Wee Russell, Bud Freeman, Jess Stacy. 'A Sailboat In The Moonlight' was a hit '37 for Guy Lombardo (written by his brother), so it was covered for juke boxes; Buddy Clark sang it with a Johnny Hodges small group, Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson, and a comparison is interesting: Billie invests it with an indefinable longing, while Buddy sings it sweet and absolutely straight. But he was learning. At last he had top ten hits '46-9: 'South America, Take It Away!' '46 with Xavier Cugat; delightful 'Linda' and 'I'll Dance At Your Wedding', both '47 with Ray Noble; under his own name 'Peg O' My Heart' '47, 'Ballerina' and 'You're Breaking My Heart' '47-9 and others, plus duets with Doris Day and Dinah Shore. His excellent intonation and phrasing means that his mature work has not dated; just as success had come, he died in a private plane crash.