Little Wonder disc 543 Gene Greene "When The Girls Grow Older They Grow A Little Bolder" (1917) Gene Greene (9 June 1877 - 5 April 1930) was son of George S. and Francis Nash Greene.
The singer was born Eugene Greene but was known as Gene (sometimes as 'Gene on printed material).
He toured in vaudeville as "The Ragtime King" both as a soloist and with his wife, Blanche Werner, as the team of Greene and Werner. In 1912 he sailed to London on the beginning of a two-year European tour, continuing as a soloist after Werner's death in Dresden, Germany.
His most popular recordings in the United States were versions of "King of the Bungaloos," with Columbia issuing one take and Victor issuing two. The Columbia take was earliest (February 17, 1911).
Victor's October 1911 supplement, announcing Greene performances on 16894 of the Williams-Van Alstyne composition "Go Back" and Wenrich's "Dublin Daisies," states, "Excellent value is offered in the first of the Greene records to be issued in double-face form. Leaving the 'coon' song field temporarily, this versatile comedian gives us an eccentric and amusing 'rube' number, and the favorite Irish march song by Wenrich, now offered for the first time as a vocal selection."
Other comic songs recorded by Greene for Victor include "Alamo Rag" (16887; 1911) "Maybe You Think I'm Happy" (16887; 1911), and "Ruff Johnson's Harmony Band" (18266; 1917).
Pathe issued approximately 64 titles in London between 1912 and 1914, none of which were released in the United States. Several contain "rag" in the title, including "Rag, Rag, Rag" (544) and "That London Rag" (P305). In late 1916 he made some Emerson discs, including "The Chinese Blues" (7140). He made at least one Little Wonder: "From Here to Shanghai" (541). For Columbia on November 9, 1917, Greene recorded "Alexander's Got A Jazz Band Now" (A2472), a song that alludes to Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band." It includes lyrics about a trombone that "harmonizes with the saxophone." This appears to be his last recording.
He retired briefly from the stage, operated a Grand Rapids restaurant, then returned to vaudeville. In later years he split his time between Chicago, Grand Rapids, and New York, where he maintained a room at the Hotel Somerset on Times Square. He attempted a comeback in early 1930 and made his last stage appearance at the Grand Opera House in New York City on April 5, 1930.
Variety noted "Green's [sic] voice was pretty well gone...there was exertion written all over, but it was that same energy that brought Green [sic] out for extra bows." Shortly after the performance, Greene, at age 52, was found dead backstage of a heart attack.
Gene Greene "When The Girls Grow Older They Grow A Little Bolder" (1917) Little Wonder disc 543
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