Maurice Gunsky #2 Recorded 1926 - 1930 205B
This volume starts with Heart Throbs Show #34
Upon his retirement from the navy, in 1921, Joe Martineau returned to San Francisco and approached the Hale Brothers - owners of the Hale Brothers Department Store, and was successful in suggesting that a radio transmitter be installed in their store. The first broadcast occurred in April of 1922, broadcasting featuring only classical and operatic recordings. This format was only to last just under a year, and a new, more powerful transmitter was installed, also foregoing the record player in favor of a larger studio with a piano, featuring live performances only. The stage was now set for Maurice's debut on the ambitious iteration to the station. Singing over the new medium of radio to promote his songs before the public became the best option in light of his stage fright. KJBS Radio in San Jose was the venue for his radio debut, in September of 1925, followed by KFRC, for a short period of time, and then he joined KPO. Hired by KPO's new program director, pianist Jean Campbell Crowe, he became a regular singer with the station. He proved to be an immediate sensation; the Radio Digest reported that "his first appearance brought thousands of letters."
Newspaper notices as far afield as Billings, Montana and Albuquerque, New Mexico announced the times when Gunsky would be singing live on air. The Berkeley Daily Gazette reported in 1927 that "Each time Gunsky goes 'on the air' ... he receives requests for songs from Los Angeles to British Columbia, and since he first began singing they have run into the hundreds of thousands." He signed on with the West Coast Theaters circuit and became their highest paid performer and biggest box office attraction.
By May of 1926, his association with the Victor Talking Machine Company had commenced with "Lay My Head Beneath a Rose" backed with "Why Do I Always Remember?". A trip to New York ensued where he made more records and performed on air. In 1928 he returned to the Bay Area with the San Francisco Chronicle proclaiming: "Since going East, KPO has been besieged with telephone calls and letters asking for Gunsky. His return home is an auspicious event in radio circles." He returned to the east again to make some recordings for the Columbia label. At the height of his popularity, Gunsky was earning 3,000 dollars a week. ~ Mickey Clark
Personnel LeRoy Shield-dir/ Max Dolin-vn/ Charles Frisbie-cello/ A. Schwarzmann-p
Maurice Gunsky #2 Recorded 1926 - 1927 205B
Show 34-If You Believed In Me/ Sleepy Valley/ Until We Meet Again, Sweetheart/ Sing Me To Sleep
WHY DO I ALWAYS REMEMBER? VIC 20051 05/01/26 PBVE-195 GUNSKY-COAKLEY-BORIES
BREAK THE NEWS TO MOTHER VIC 20376 09/08/26 36166 HARRIS
CONSOLATION VIC 20236 09/08/26 36165 GUNSKY-BORIES
TAKE THIS ROSE VIC 20236 09/08/26 36163 KAHN-DE RANCE
BELL BRANDON VIC 20779 09/09/26 36167 GARRETT-WOOLCOTT
JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN VIC 20376 09/09/26 36168 UDALL
LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART VIC 20428 09/09/26 36170 WHITSON-FRIEDMAN
THAT HAUNTING WALTZ(Theme Song VIC 20301 09/09/26 36164 GUNSKY-GOLDSTEIN
MOST OF ALL I WANT YOUR LOVE VIC 20301 09/11/26 36305 TANDLER-HORNE
WITH ALL HER FAULTS I LOVE HER STILL VIC 20779 09/11/26 36306 ROSENFELD
ROSES FOR REMEMBRANCE VIC 20630 04/18/27 PBVE-257 KAHN-CURTIS
DEAR OLD GIRL VIC 20693 04/18/27 PBVE-259 BUCK-MORSE
MORE THAN EVER VIC 20692 04/21/27 PBVE-273 GUNSKY-GOLDSTEIN
PAL OF MY LONESOME HOURS VIC 20694 04/21/27 PBVE-274 HIRSCH-LYMAN-DALE
SONG OF THE WANDERER VIC 20630 04/28/27 PBVE-272 MORET
WHEN YOU WERE SWEET SIXTEEN VIC 20693 04/25/27 PBVE-288 THORNTON
HOW I LOVE YOU,MOTHER MINE VIC 20694 04/25/27 PBVE-290 GROSSMAN-SHAY
AFTER I CLOSE MY GARDEN GATE VIC 21086 04/25/27 PBVE-291 GUNSKY
SONG OF SONGS VIC 20748 06/06/27 39223 MOYA
Available Options:
Compact Disc: Ship