Elmo Tanner

Elmo Tanner
Elmo Tanner circa 1940's - 1950s.
Background information
Birth name	William Elmo Tanner
Born	August 8, 1904(1904-08-08) Nashville, Tennessee
Died	December 20, 1990(1990-12-20) (aged 86) St. Petersburg, Florida
Genres	Big Band, Easy Listening, Traditional pop music
Occupations	singer, whistler, DJ
Years active	late 1920s – early 1960s
Associated acts	Ted Weems, Perry Como
Notable instruments
washboard[1]

William Elmo Tanner,^[2] known as Elmo Tanner (August 8, 1904 – December 20, 1990) was an American singer, whistler, bandleader and disc jockey, best known for his whistling on the chart-topping song “Heartaches” with the Ted Weems orchestra. He earned the nicknames ““Whistler’s Mother’s “Boy””,^[3] “The Whistling Troubador,”^[4] and “the nation’s best-known whistler.”^[5][6] Tanner, like Bing Crosby, was able to whistle from his throat due to the muscles in his larynx.^[7][8]

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early Recordings 2.2 Ted Weems Orchestra and “Heartaches” 2.3 Later career 3 Personal life and death 4 Style 5 Partial discography 5.1 as solo 5.1.1 singles 5.2 with David Carroll 5.2.1 albums 5.3 with Buddy Morrow 5.3.1 singles 5.4 with Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orch 5.4.1 singles 5.5 with Jay Richards 5.5.1 singles 5.6 with Frank Sullivan 5.6.1 singles 5.7 with Ted Weems 5.7.1 albums 5.7.2 singles 6 References

Early life

Tanner was born on August 8, 1904 in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up in Detroit, moving with his family to Memphis by 1926. Tanner worked there as a mechanic and liked to whistle and sing while he worked. One day, he had a repair job for a customer who happened to work at WMC radio. After hearing Tanner singing while working on his car, the announcer suggested Tanner audition for the radio station. His on-air appearance brought a call from Paramount Records, which had offices in Chicago.^[2]

Career

Early Recordings

By the late 1920s, Elmo Tanner had moved to the Chicago area and had established himself as a professional musician.^[2] Although Elmo Tanner never gained a large reputation as a singer,^[9] (though occasionally featured as such with Weems,)^[10] it was as a vocalist that he made his initial recordings. He recorded a few dozen sides as a soloist for Paramount and Vocalion in 1927 through 1929.^[11][12] Interestingly, the Paramount discs appeared in the Race record series,^[12] and the Vocalion sides were likewise marketed to African Americans.^[13] His versatility was noted by Vocalion, who utilized him to provide vocals for jazz outfits such as Jimmie Noone^[14] and for more sedate recordings with the Victor Young orchestra and with organist Eddie House.^[15] Not having signed an exclusive contract with any recording company, he was able to appear on the prestigious Victor label with Nathaniel Shilkret.^[15] In 1928 he formed a duet with Fred Rose as “The Tune Peddlers” and appeared on radio stations WLS, KYW, and WBBM.^[16]

Ted Weems Orchestra and “Heartaches”

Tanner joined the Ted Weems band as a singer in 1929^[17] and became a prominent feature of the group. Tanner's whistling talent was unveiled by accident. In high spirits on their way to their next performance, the band members were singing, yelling and whistling on the bus. When Tanner joined in, Weems was impressed enough to add a whistling segment to one of the band's sets. Tanner whistled the Show Boat song, "Make Believe"; the audience asked for an encore.^[18] Tanner's whistling became so popular that Perry Como, another featured performer in the band, said “The whistler was the whole band.” ^[19] In 1938^[20] he appeared in the movie “Swing, Sister, Swing” with the Weems outfit.^[21] On occasion, Tanner’s lips would pucker up, interfering with his whistling. Although generally noted for his graciousness as a bandleader, Weems would have fun at Tanner’s expense, running him through the most difficult songs in his repertoire when he noticed Tanner was struggling. Perry Como said “I used to sit there in the bandstand and watch, and my heart would really bleed for the guy,”^[22] In an era when whistling was commonly featured on popular recordings, Tanner was often confused with Fred Lowry. People would come up to Tanner and ask if was true that he was blind. “Only on Saturday night,” he would reply.^[23] Ted Weems considered Tanner's whistling so important to his band, he insured the musician's throat with Lloyd's of London for $10,000 in 1939.^[8] During this time period Tanner appeared on the popular show Beat the Band with Weems^[7][24] which ran from January 28, 1940 until February 23, 1941.^[4]

Tanner, Ted Weems, and the rest of his orchestra joined the Merchant Marine in 1942.^[15][25][26] At (and intermittently before) his discharge in 1944 he pursued a solo career.^[27] He headlined in various nightclubs and theaters such as Chicago’s Oriental and Colosimo’s^[27][28] and at the Orpheum in Los Angeles alongside the King Sisters and Maurice Rocco.^[29] He would continue to perform songs that were associated with Weems, such as “Nola”.^[28] Tanner announced he would be fronting a twelve-piece band in September 1946.^[30] He took over the Andy Anderson unit that was based in Atlanta and signed on with the William Morris Agency. His orchestra featured his whistling and vocals by Carol Bridges.^[31] However, this proved to be short-lived because of the surprise success of an old recording.

“Heartaches”, composed by Al Hoffman and John Klenner in 1931,^[32] was recorded as an unusual half-rumba, half washboard rhythm. Victor had assigned the recording of the song to Ted Weems and his Orchestra, and wanted it recorded quickly. Weems and his band had time for only one rehearsal before recording the song. Initially, Weems did not like the song; he decided to omit the lyrics by way of having Tanner whistle instead. While running through the song at rehearsal, someone thought of trying it with a speedier tempo than initially written.^[33] It was not a large seller initially, but a DJ in North Carolina began plugging the recording in 1947.^[34][35] This older recording went to the top of all the main charts in 1947, including sales,^[36] juke box play,^[37] and airplay.^[38] Unusually, two separate recordings were given equal credit in the charts. Victor’s version was recorded on August 4, 1933 and issued on Bluebird B5131. Decca’s recording was made on August 23, 1938 and originally appeared on catalog number 2020B. The hit records were credited to RCA Victor 20-2175 and Decca 25017, respectively.^[36] Altogether the recordings were credited with selling 8.5 million copies.^[15] Tanner said in a 1960 interview that neither he nor Ted Weems received any compensation for the "Heartaches" re-issue as they both had let the contracts on the song expire while they were in the Merchant Marine.^[18][25][39]

Because of the renewed success of “Heartaches, Tanner joined the re-formed Weems outfit in March 1947,^[40][41] and both were signed to Mercury records.^[42] This later outfit often received poor reviews, with the exception of Elmo’s “outstanding” whistling,^[43] and it was Elmo’s whistling that audiences most responded to.^[44]

Later career

Tanner left Weems in 1950 to open a restaurant in Nashville. This occupied him for a year and a half, but it proved to be a failure and Tanner suffered financially.^[25] He formed the Elmo Tanner Quartet and resumed touring for the next few years, until, tired of travel, he broke up his group in Seattle in 1958.^[25] He spent the next fourteen months in Birmingham as a disk jockey.^[25] He reunited briefly with Weems,^[25] then settled in the St. Petersburg, Florida area in Treasure Island and became a permanent fixture on radio station WILZ starting in 1959, a position which lasted several years.^[15] During this time he continued to make recordings with orchestras such as David Carroll^[45] and Billy Vaughn to continued positive reviews.^[46] His association continued with Weems, making the occasional guest appearance with the band he was closely connected to.^[47][48] In the early 1960s, Tanner was also selling Datsuns at a local St. Petersburg auto dealership.^[49][50]

Personal life and death

Tanner was married to Verne Tanner. They lived in Chicago and divorced in 1936.^[51] He sneaked out between shows and married Eleanor Jones of Birmingham on January 31, 1939 in Indianapolis.^[19] Tanner met his second wife while working with the Weems band on Catalina Island.^[52] They had four children together: Elmo Jr., twins Margaret and Patricia, and John Emmet.^[25] By 1969 he was retired.^[34] Tanner underwent gall bladder surgery in 1985 and was able to recover at his home in St. Petersburg.^[53] He died on December 20, 1990 in St. Petersburg, Florida.^[21] Tanner is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.^[54]

Style

Tanner was noted for the ease with which he hit high notes and performed trills.^[27] He had the ability to whistle while Triple-tonguing.^[25] His range was from low G to high B♭.^[7] Besides musical whistling, he imitated birds for Disney.^[55]

Partial discography

as solo

singles

• “Dawn of Tomorrow” – Paramount 12561 (recorded August 1927)^[12]
• “Calling Me Home” (Gilbert - Monaco) – Paramount 12564 (recorded August 1927)^[12]
• “I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In” (Abe Olman – Jack Yellen) – Paramount 12569 (recorded August 1927)^[12]
• “Dear Old Girl” (Morse - Buck) – Paramount 12569 (recorded August 1927)^[12]
• “Song of Hawaii” (Bories - Corbel) – Paramount 12532 (recorded September 1927)^[12]
• “After I Called You Sweetheart” (Little - Grossman) – Paramount 12532 (recorded September 1927)^[12]
• “Sing Me a Baby Song” (Donaldson - Kahn) – Paramount 12533 (recorded September 1927)^[12]
• “So Blue” – Paramount 12533 (recorded September 1927)^[12]
• “C'est Vous” – Vocalion 15637 (recorded September 1927)^[11]
• “My Blue Heaven” (Donaldson - George Whiting) – Paramount 12563 (recorded October 1927)^[12]
• “Just Once Again” (Donaldson - Ash) – Paramount 12563 (recorded October 1927)^[12]
• “Marvelous” (Peter Derose – May Breen Singh) – Paramount 12570 (recorded October 1927)^[12]
• “Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi” (Stokes - Vernon) – Paramount 12570 (recorded October 1927)^[12]
• “Girl of My Dreams” – Vocalion 15637 (recorded November 1927)^[11]
• “You Only Want Me When You're Lonesome” – Vocalion 15639 (recorded November 1927)^[11]
• “Tomorrow” – Vocalion 15639 (recorded November 1927)^[11]
• “Give Me a Night in June” (Cliff Friend) – Paramount 12564 (recorded November 1927)^[12]
• “Rain” – Vocalion 15649 (recorded January 17, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Away Down South in Heaven” – Vocalion 15650^[11]
• “Does It Make Any Difference to You” – Vocalion 15650^[11]
• “Rainy Day Pal” – Vocalion 15651 (recorded January 17, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “So Tired” – Vocalion 15649 (recorded January 18, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Four Walls” – Vocalion 15651 (recorded January 18, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “That’s How I Know I Love You” – Vocalion 15693 (recorded March 26, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “If I Can’t Have You” – Vocalion 15694^[11]
• “I Still Love You” – Vocalion 15694 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Back In Your Own Back Yard” – Vocalion 15687 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Remember Me” – Vocalion 15687 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “ Just Across the Street from Heaven” – Vocalion 15693 (recorded June 29, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Don’t Wait Until the Lights are Low” – Vocalion 15711 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Grieving” – Vocalion 15726 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “I’ve Lived All My Life Just for You” – Vocalion 15711 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “That Old Sweetheart of Mine” – Vocalion 15726 (recorded July 20, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time” – Vocalion 15731 (recorded October 15, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Sonny Boy” – Vocalion 15731 (recorded October 15, 1928 Chicago)^[56]
• “Because I Know You're Mine” – Vocalion 15744 (recorded November, 1928)^[11]
• “Once in a Lifetime” – Vocalion 15744 (recorded November, 1928)^[11]
• “Marie” (Irving Berlin) – Paramount 12720 (recorded November 1928)^[12]
• “My Old Girl's My New Girl Now” (Caesar - Friend) – Paramount 12720 (recorded November 1928)^[12]
• “Please Let Me Dream In Your Arms” – Paramount 12732 (recorded January 1929)^[12]
• “My Mother’s Eyes” – Paramount 12732 (recorded January 1929)^[12]
• “True Blue” – Paramount 12733 (recorded January 1929)^[12]
• “Who Do You Miss” – Paramount 12733 (recorded January 1929)^[12]
• “Out Where Moonbeams Are Born” – Vocalion 15814 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “Now I’m in Love” – Vocalion 15814 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “At Close of Day” – Vocalion 15825 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “Ich Liebe Dich” – Vocalion 15825 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “I Don't Want Your Kisses” – Vocalion 15829 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “Sweetheart's Holiday” – Vocalion 15829 (recorded July, 1929)^[11]
• “Nobody’s Sweetheart” – MGM 10776^[57]
• “Every Time You Turn Me Down – MGM 10776^[57]
• “Whistling Paper Boy” – MGM 10886^[57]
• “Candy Lips” – MGM 10886^[57]
• “Tuscaloosa” (Schwartz - Fields) - MGM 10958A^[57]
• “My Angel” (Baron – Kanter - Malkin.) - MGM 10958B^[57]
• “Heartaches” – Dot 15112 (1953) ^[58]
• “Nola” – Dot 15112 (1953) ^[58]
• “Begin The Beguine” – Dot 15319 (1955) ^[58]
• “Remembering” – Dot 15319 (1955) ^[58]
• “Nightingale” – Dot 15411 (1955) ^[58]
• “Avalon” – Dot 15411 (1955) ^[58]

with David Carroll

albums

• Let's Dance (1958) – Mercury SR 60001/MG 20281^[45]

with Buddy Morrow

singles

• “Theme From "The Proud Ones"” – Wing 90079^[59]

with Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orch

singles

• “Virginia Lee” – Vocalion 1518 (recorded July 1, 1930 Chicago)^[56]
• “Little White Lies” – Vocalion 1531 (recorded August 23, 1930 Chicago)^[56]
• “Moonlight on the Colorado” – Vocalion 1531 (recorded August 23, 1930 Chicago)^[56]

with Jay Richards

singles

• “Sweetness” – Vocalion 15835 (recorded August 29, 1929 Chicago)^[56]

with Frank Sullivan

singles

• “An Old Guitar and an Old Refrain” – Vocalion 15648B^[11]

with Ted Weems

albums

• Dance Set (1952) – Mercury MG-25144^[60]

singles

• “Heartaches” – Bluebird B5131 (recorded August 4, 1933)
• “Lazy Weather” – Decca 822A (recorded May 15, 1936 Chicago)^[1]
• “Buffoon” (Zez Confrey) – Decca 1884B (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York City)^[1][61]
• “In My Little Red Book” – Decca 1695B (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York City)^[1]
• “Nola” (Felix Arndt) – Decca 2041 (recorded Feb. 23, 1938 New York City)^[1]
• “The Cute Little Hat-Check Girl” (Al Stillman – Ray Bloch - Nat Simon) – Decca 2019B (recorded Aug. 23, 1938 Los Angeles)^[1]
• “Heartaches” – Decca 2020, 25017 (recorded Aug. 23, 1938 Los Angeles)^[1]
• “Poor Pinocchio's Nose” – Decca 2408A (recorded Mar. 10, 1939 New York City)^[1]
• “The Young 'Uns Of The Martins And The Coys” – Decca 25286B (recorded Mar. 10, 1939 New York City)^[1]
• “The Chestnut Tree” – Decca 2380A (recorded Mar. 11, 1939 New York City)^[1]
• “I Love To Ride On A Choo-Choo Train” – Decca 2366B (recorded Mar. 11, 1939 New York City)^[1]
• “Moonlight” (Con Conrad) – Decca 3044A, 25105 (recorded Oct. 5, 1939 New York City) ^[62]
• “Out Of The Night” (Harry Sosnik – Walter Hirsch) – Decca 3697A (recorded Jan. 27, 1941 New York City)^[1]
• “Rose Of The Rockies” – Decca 3828B (recorded Jan. 28, 1941 New York City)^[1]
• “Salud, Dinero y Amor” – Decca 3828A (recorded Jan. 28, 1941 New York City)^[1]
• “Having A Lonely Time” – Decca 4131 (recorded Dec. 9, 1941 Los Angeles)^[1]
• “Violets” (Green – Hill - Vallee) – Mercury 5052B^[63]
• “Mickey” (Moret – Williams) – Mercury 5062A (recorded May 1947)^[63]
• “The Martins and the Coys” (Cameron – Weems) – Mercury 5062A (recorded May 1947)^[63]
• “Sally Won’t You Come Back” – Mercury 5118^[43]
• “Ciribiribin” – Mercury 5118^[43]

References

Ted Weems Performers Perry Como Red Ingle Art Jarrett Marilyn Maxwell Elmo Tanner Paul Winchell Radio Shows The Jack Benny Program Ted Weems and his Orchestra (Mutual) Fibber McGee & Molly Beat the Band

Persondata
Name	Tanner, Elmo
Alternative names
Short description	American whistler most famous for his time with the Ted Weems orchestra
Date of birth	August 4, 1904
Place of birth	Nashville, Tennessee
Date of death	December 1990
Place of death	St. Petersburg, Florida