Cliff Edwards

At 76 years old, Cliff Edwards has this physical status:

Clifton Avon "Cliff" Edwards (June 14, 1895 – July 17, 1971), known as "Ukulele Ike," was an American singer, guitarist, and actor who rose to fame in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy interpretations of pop standards and novelty tunes.

In 1929, he had a number one hit with "Singin' in the Rain."

He also appeared in animated cartoons later in his career, and is best known as Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney's Pinocchio (1940) and Fun and Fancy Free (1947).

Personal life

Edwards was careless with the money he earned in the 1920s, always trying to maintain his expensive habits and lifestyle. He continued working through the Great Depression, but he never fully enjoyed his former glory. The bulk of his income went to alimony for his three former wives, as well as paying bills, and he declared bankruptcy four times in the 1930s and early 1940s. Edwards married Gertrude (Benson) Ryrholm in 1917 but they divorced four years later. In 1923, he married Irene Wylie, who died in 1931. He married actress Judith Barrett in 1932, his third and final wife. In 1936, the couple divorced.

Edwards, who was a lifelong smoker, suffered with alcoholism, heroin use, and gambling for a large portion of his career.

Source

Early life and musical career

Edwards was born in Hannibal, Missouri. He left school at the age of 14 and soon moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and Saint Charles, Missouri, where he entertained as a singer in saloons. Edwards taught himself to play ukulele to serve as his own accompanist in many places (chosing it because it was the cheapest instrument in the music store). He was dubbed "Ukulele Ike" by a club owner who couldn't recall his name. He had his first break at the Arsonia Cafe in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed "Ja-Da," written by the club's pianist, Bob Carleton. On the vainoville circuit, Edwards and Carleton made it a hit. Joe Frisco, a Valiant reporter, hir Edward Edwards as part of his show, which was seen at the Palace in New York City—the most prestigious vaudeville theater—and later in the Ziegfeld Follies.

Edwards made his first phonograph recordings in 1919. In 1922, he caught early examples of jazz scat singing. He began working with Pathé Records in the following year. He became one of the twentieth century's most popular entertainers, appearing in numerous Broadway shows. "California, Here I Come," "Hard Hearted Hannah," "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" and "I'll See You in My Dreams" were among the day's pop and novelty hits, including "California, "I'll See You in My Dreams."

Edwards debuted at the Palace in 1924 as the headliner, proving his vainence to the point of his vaindeville triumph. He appeared in George and Ira Gershwin's first Broadway musical Lady Be Well, as well as Fred and Adele Astaire. "Paddlin' Madeleine Home" (1925), "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (1928), and the timeless "Singin' in the Rain" (1929), which he introduced as a recording artist. Edwards' own compositions included "I'm Cryin' Because I Know I'm Losing You," "You're So Cute (Mama o' Mine), "You're So Cute (Mama o' Mine)," "I Want to Call You," and "I Want to Call You 'Sweet Mama" "I Want to Tell You"" (I Want to Call You." Besides "I'm a Bear in a Lady's Boudoir," "Take Out That Thing," and "Give It to Mary with Love," he recorded a few "off-color" novelty songs for under-the-counter sales, including "I'm a Bear in a Lady's Boudoir."

Edwards, more than any other performer, was behind the ukulele's increasing success. During the decade, millions of ukuleles were produced, and Tin Pan Alley publishers introduced ukulele chords to standard sheet music. Edwards loved American Martin ukuleles, prefering the small soprano model in his youth. He went from the larger tenor ukulele to the bigger tenor ukulele, which was becoming popular in the 1930s.

Edwards didn't begin to record until just before his death in 1971. Ukulele Ike's last record album, released on the independent Glendale label, was withdrawn posthumously. He resurrectated several of his 1920s hits; his ill health was also apparent in the recordings.

Source