Urbie Green and "Without a Song"

Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green was born in Mobile, Alabama on August 8, 1926. He is considered one of the best and most respected jazz and pop trombone players of all time, not only for his mastery of the instrument but also for his soft and warms tones and his musical expression and beautiful solos. He played with several of the big bands of the pre- and post-World War II era such as Gene Krupa, Jan Savit, Frankie Carle, Bob Strong, and Woodie Herman’s Thundering Herd. During his career, Green played on more than 250 albums and recorded more than twenty-five albums as a soloist.

During the last years of his life, Green lived in the Pocono Mountain region of northeastern Pennsylvania, the home state of another famous trombonist of the big band era, Tommy Dorsey, who was originally from Shenandoah, PA. Urbie Green died on December 31, 2018, at the age of ninety-two.

Read more about Urbie Green by clicking here
and/or by clicking here.

One of the earliest recordings of "Without a Song" was by Paul Whiteman’s orchestra on October 9, 1929, and featured Bing Crosby on the vocal. The song was included in the musical score of the play "Great Day" that ran for only thirty-six performances. It was one of two songs from the play that became famous.

Music for the song was written by Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. Youmans died in 1946 at the young age of forty-seven. Billy Rose’s full name was William Samuel Rosenberg. Eliscu was ninety-six when he died.

The song was recorded by a number of well-known artists including Billy Eckstine, Perry Como, Nelson Eddy, Frank Sinatra, Keely Smith, Tony Bennet, The Carpenters, Willie Nelson, and many others.

You can read the lyrics for "Without a Song" by clicking here. They express the importance of music in the lives of many every-day people.

Read more about "Without a Song" by clicking here.

Listen to Urbie Green’s instrumental rendition of "Without a Song" on YouTube by clicking here.

Click the following links to hear other songs featuring Urbie Green:

Here’s That Rainy Day

Flight of the Bumble Bee

Perdido

Stardust

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