DAN DONOVAN on record by Peter Wallace
Dan Donovan is best remembered for being principal vocalist with the Debroy Somers Band (April 1930-August 1934) and with The BBC Dance Orchestra directed by Henry Hall (September 1934-May 1937). As well as being a familiar voice over the airwaves, Dan made over 500 commercial recordings during the 1930s, most of them as dance band vocalist. These are almost all listed in the British Dance Band Discography and so I have only listed the number of Dan’s recordings with each band. Dan recorded with many different combinations when he was a member of the Debroy Somers band but his BBC contract did not permit him to continue with freelance work when he was Henry Hall’s principal vocalist.
Following this I have listed other recordings, principally his solo discs, in the first attempt at a Dan Donovan discography. The information given is incomplete, and I would welcome additions and corrections so that we can publish a complete listing. Please send further information to me at british-dance-bands@hotmail.com
Peter Wallace October 2000
AS VOCALIST WITH THE DANCE BANDS (Main Reference Source: British Dance Bands On Record 1911 to 1945 by Brian Rust & Sandy Forbes. General Gramophone Publications Ltd 1987)
Note: The totals given below also include Dan’s recordings as a member of vocal trios etc.
with Bertini (19 recordings)
Record labels: Sterno; Eclipse
1931 = 3
1933 = 6
1934 = 10
with Harry Bidgood (16 recordings)
Record label: Broadcast
1930 = 12
1931 = 4
with Chris Denver (George Scott Wood?) (2 recordings)
Record label: Trusound
1933 = 2
with Howard Flynn (Stanley Barnett) (4 recordings)
Record label: Edison Bell Winner
1933 = 4
with Stan Greening (7 recordings)
Record label: Regal)
1930 = 2
1931 = 5
with Henry Hall (122 recordings)
Record label: Columbia
1934 = 16
1935 = 64
1936 = 34
1937 = 8
with Charlie Kunz (17 recordings)
Record labels: Sterno; 4-in-1; Homochord
1933 = 9
1934 = 8
with Harry Leader (2 recordings)
Record label: Eclipse
1934 = 2
with Benny Loban (2 recordings)
Record label: Sterno
1931 = 2
with Madame Tussaud’s Dance Orchestra dir.Stanley Barnett (2 recordings)
Record label: Edison Bell Winner
1934 = 2
with Mantovani (4 recordings)
Record labels: Sterno: Homochord; Plaza; Lewis
1934 = 4
with Orlando (2 recordings)
Record label: HMV
1937 = 2
with Oscar Rabin (37 recordings)
Record labels: Sterno; Plaza
1933 = 37
with Scott Wood (2 recordings)
1934 = 2
with Debroy Somers (205 recordings)
Record labels: Columbia, Regal
1930 = 41
1931 = 72
1932 = 48
1933 = 25
1934 = 19
with Nat Star (39 recordings)
Record labels: Sterno; Solex; Plaza; Peacock; Lewis
1930 = 8
1931 = 24
1933 = 7
with Jay Wilbur (12 recordings)
Record labels: Broadcast; Broadcast 4 Tune; Rex
1932 = 2
1933 = 10
DAN DONOVAN AND HIS MUSIC
During 1938, Dan Donovan and his Music were resident at the Lansdowne Restaurant in London. On March 7th they recorded four titles for HMV: She’s The Daughter Of The Old Grey Mare; Three Green Bonnets; Rose of Tralee; and ‘Tis I Myself.
DAN DONOVAN (solos and other recordings not included in Rust/Forbes)
This listing has been compiled with the assistance of Terry Brown, Harold Kaye, Barry McCanna, Mike Taylor, Mike Thomas, and with special help from Douglas Gardner.
DAN DONOVAN
c. June 1932
202 To Have And Hold You In My Arms Broadcast 870A
203 I’m So Alone With The Crowd Broadcast 870B
QUENTIN M.MACLEAN at the Wurlitzer Organ, Vocalist: Dan Donovan
The Trocadero Cinema, Elephant & Castle, London, S.E.
18th August 1932
WA-12940-1 It Was So Beautiful Col.DB 904 / STE 1016(CD)
WA-12491-1 The Clouds Will Soon Roll By Col. DB 904 / STE 1016(CD)
DAN DONOVAN
c. July/August 1933
I Cover The Waterfront Rex 8009
When Old Friends Drifting Apart Rex 8009
DAN DONOVAN (Tenor in English with Orch.) (1937/1938)
OEA-4986-1 The Greatest Mistake Of My Life HMV BD-438
OEA-4987-1 Little Old Lady Of Poverty Street HMV BD-438
OEA-5111- Silvery Moon And Golden Sands HMV BD-463
OEA-5112- Little Old Lady HMV BD-463
OEA-5432-1 September In The Rain HMV BD-448
OEA-5433-1 Little Irish Home HMV BD-448
I’ll Marry Ye When Me Garden Grows HMV BD-455
Daughter Of Mother Machree HMV BD-455
DAN DONOVAN Tenor accompanied by Charles Ernesto & his Quintet
Irish Medley – Pt.1 (When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Little Bit HMV BD-479
Of Heaven, Off To Philadelphia, Mountains Of Mourne)
Irish Medley – Pt.2 (Believe Me, If All Those Endearing, HMV BD-479
Little Town In Old County Down)
DAN DONOVAN (Tenor in English with Orchestra)
The Girl In The Alice Blue Gown HMV BD-500
On Linger Longer Island HMV BD-500
All The Way From Ireland HMV BD-517
My Irish Song HMV BD-517
Spring Time In County Clare HMV BD-562
God Remembers Everything HMV BD-562
SINGERS ON PARADE(Parts 3 & 4) with Felix Mendelssohn and his Orchestra.
London. c.October 1938
DR-2983- Marjorie Stedeford: Love Walked In; Jack Plant: Time And DECCA F.6832
Time; Dinah Miller: It’s D’Lovely.
DR-2984- DAN DONOVAN: The Red Maple Leaves; Alice Mann: DECCA F.6832
Says My Heart; Jack Cooper: Music Maestro Please.
DAN DONOVAN acc. By Frank Dey at the Hammond Organ
* with the addition of Len Stevens at the piano
London 5th November 1938
CAR- Change Partners RZ MR-2895
CAR-5152-1 You Go To My Head RZ MR-2896
CAR-5153-1 On The Sentimental Side* RZ MR-2896
CAR- Music Maestro Please* RZ MR-2895
P J Wallace 10/00
reproduced from the files of the British dance bands yahoogroup with the permission of Peter Wallace
this page first published by John Wright, 9 July 2001
last update 9 July 2001
vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk
return to the Dan Donovan page