Frank Crumit - I'm sitting on top of the world (1925) video free download

Frank Crumit (Sept.26,1889 - Sept.7,1943)

was a popular United States singer and songwriter, born in Jackson, Ohio, the son of Frank and Mary Poore Crumit, and he died of a heart attack in New York City.

By 1913, he performed on the vaudeville stage, first with a trio and then a year later on his own, playing ukulele (and his work with the ukulele apparently inspired George Formby) and singing his favorite songs; he was referred to as "the one-man glee club" in New York City's night spots.

He moved up to Broadway in 1918 to appear in the musical "Betty Be Good." He was a big success there and went on to "Greenwich Village Follies of 1920," which featured his hit song, "Sweet Lady."

Crumit began making records for American Columbia in 1919, using the old acoustic, or "horn," method of recording (he also occasionally added vocals and banjo to recordings by the Paul Biese Trio on the same label). Unfortunately, the broad and pleasant overtones of his voice were not suited to this technology.

This changed after 1925, with the industry's introduction of the microphone. By this time, Frank Crumit was singing at Victor Talking Machine. The new recording method was able to capture the rich tenor sound of his voice and Crumit produced a series of the traditional ballads he loved, as well as a number of his own compositions, which he wrote in the style of his old-time favorites.

He met Julia Sanderson in 1921 and began working with her on stage and radio. Crumit was known for his humorous material, particularly his puns. The pair married in 1927 and moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts. They intended to leave show business, but by 1928-1928 they were performing together on radio as the "Singing Sweethearts of the Air."

From Massachusetts, Crumit and Julia drove to New York City, a four-hour trip, twice a week to do their radio show. Their nationally-produced radio broadcast was aired over WLW in Cincinnati.

In 1930, they continued with a popular quiz show, "The Battle of the Sexes", which ran 13 years, until Crumits death in 1943. During his last years, Crumit still made records, but they were often different in style from his earlier ballads.

Frank Crumit - I'm sitting on top of the world (1925)