[78-L] Two singers who cause me pain

[David Lewis]

Taylor wrote:
> 
> I can listen to and enjoy a lot of different music and singers,  ranging 
> from JW Myers to Layne Staley.
> 
> There are two 1920s singers who each made and sold a lot of records,  and 


> who I have tried to listen to for years and just can't understand how and 
> why they were so popular.   There are lots of horrible vocals on stray dance 
> band records by various unknowns,  but these two were very well known to the 
> radio listening public and to record buyers.
> 
> One is Vaughn De Leath.   The other is Maurice J. Gunskey.  I just tried to 
> listen all the way through his Viva Tonal version of How Am I To Know...a 
> wonderful song...and I couldn't stand it.  How could anyone in 1929 have 
> gone for his so out-of-date r-r-r-r-r-olling of his r-r-r-r-rs?  And an 
> ugly,  small voice to go with the mannerisms.
> 
> De Leath is an even bigger mystery to me...a flat and unmusical sound to her 
> voice,  and she was frequently guilty of some of the worst attempts at being 
> "jazzy" that I've ever heard.  I sometimes think she is actually a sheep who 
> has somehow learned to sing in English but at any moment might revert to 
> "Ba-a-a-a-a"-ing in her native tongue.
> 
> So many others took me a while to appreciate:  Irving Kaufman,   Sid Garry, 
> Lee Morse,  Scrappy,  etc.  But nothing seems to work with Maurice or Vaughn 
> (note what her initials spell...maybe that's part of the problem)
> 
> I don't like all singers equally but I can certainly see what's what with 
> most of them,  even if I don't seek out their records.  But these 
> two....what's up with them?  Any fans of either who could suggest some of 
> their better disks?
> 
> 
> Thanks from
> 
> Taylor

I don't mind speaking up for VDL; her 1925 record "Comin' Home" on Cameo is fantastic. However, she did experience a swift vocal decline at a certain point, whether she knew it or not; her low range gradually lost its pitch and that's where she sang most often, and presumably most comfortably. Her "The Man I Love" with Whiteman still sounds good to me, although the lowest notes are already getting away from her. That was 1928, much later than that and indeed, she does sound "dull;" generally with VDL earlier is better.

 

VDL owned a radio station in Chicago in 1923-25 and was its main entertainment, singing up to three hours at a time, accompaning herself on a variety of instruments. I think she just wore her voice, singing so much that she eventually lost control of it. JMHO.

 

Can't help you with Maurice Gunsky.


Uncle Dave Lewis uncledavelewis at hotmail.com


 

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