Benny Bell

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Benny Bell (born March 21, 1906; died July 6, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter of the 1940s.

He was born Benjamin Samberg in New York City. He decided to pursue a career in the music business, although his father had wanted him to be a rabbi. He enjoyed writing risque lyrics, and during the 1940s his songs appeared in juke boxes in cocktail bars.

His first successful song was Take A Ship For Yourself. In 1946 he released Shaving Cream, as sung by Paul Wynn. His music waned until 1975 when Shaving Cream began playing again and became a top 30 hit. The song was frequently played on the Dr. Demento radio program, and has been covered by the Doctor himself on the album, Dr. Demento's Dementia Royale.

[edit] Further reading

• The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Third edition. Edited by Colin Larkin. London: MUZE, 1998. Grove's Dictionaries, New York, 1998.
• Ronald L. Smith, Comedy Stars at 78 RPM: Biographies and discographies of 89 American and British recording artists, 1896-1946. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1998.