Whitey Kaufman's Original Pennsylvania Serenaders

[Harold Aherne]

I was captivated by Whitey Kaufman's orchestra several years ago when I heard their recording of "Paddlin' Madelin' Home" and I wondered why the group was little more than a footnote in popular music history. Part of the reason, I guess, is that they had only 14 issued sides (most of which can be listened to here), but in that slim discography there are a lot of gems.

"Paddlin' Madelin' Home" is probably the group's masterpiece, but "You Tell Her--I Stutter" and "Come On Red" also stand out for their loose, raw energy and vibrant sense of fun. "Henpecked Blues" and "Deep River Blues" have some great musicianship too, and the band gets to show off its chops for blues material. "Charleston Cabin" has drawn comparisons in recent years to "St. James Infirmary" and the song does have some atypical minor chords that the band pulls off well.

I've been trying to find out as much about Marlin "Whitey" Kaufman himself as I can. From census and social security data, I found that he was born on 5 September 1899 (probably in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his life) to William H. and Nora S. Kaufman. His father was involved with men's clothing and in 1910 the family was living on North 8th Street in Lebanon. By 1920 the Kaufmans had divorced and Marlin was living with Nora and his sister Grace (born about 1901-02), working as a highway inspector. The Original Pennsylvania Serenaders were likely formed within the following couple of years (around the time that Kaufman reportedly attended college in Annville); the group made a test for Victor on 10 August 1922 and commenced their regular recording career the following March. They continued to record through 1927, although many of their masters were rejected for issue. The most prominent member of the orchestra was probably Jack Purvis. Kaufman was still leading the band at least until 1935, but I haven't found much about his later career or years, aside from the fact that he died in Lebanon in March 1984.

The Vitaphone Varieties blog has quite a good picture of him. If anyone here knows more about Whitey or his Serenaders, or whether he's much remembered in or left any substantial legacy in the Lebanon area, I'd love to hear it.

-Harold

[sethb]

I believe the Pennsylvania Serenaders' arrangement of "Paddlin' Madeline Home" was transcribed and used by Max Raabe and his Palast Orchester. It sure sounds a lot like the Kaufman record!

If so, then there is a nice legacy. SETH

[lin94579]

I am researching Bert Stock, who I believe was a piano player in Whitey's band in the 1930s. Bert was married to Marcella Schirack from Canton, Ohio. She was the sister of my grandfather, CJ Schirack. Bert and Marcella had two children, Bert (II) and Mildred Rae Stock. In Dec 1940, Bert and his wife died in a car accident and Bert (II) and his sister ended up living with my grandparents; my father was very close to his cousin, Bert (II). Bert (II) died in 2001 from cancer and was a fantastic musician, piano and trumpet...probably inherited from his father! Do you have any information on Bert Stock? Thanks, Linda

[Harold Aherne]

Hi, Linda, and welcome to Nitrateville.

I haven't done a great deal of research on the individual members of WK's orchestra, particularly in the years after they stopped recording. However, I did a quick search for Bert Stock in the 1930 U.S. census. He was enumerated in Detroit on 8 April 1930 as follows:

Bert Stock, age 29, first married at age 23, born in OH, both parents born in OH, employed as a musician.

Marcella Stock, age 30, first married at age 24, born in OH, father born in IN, mother born in OH, no occupation.

Bert Stock Jr., age 4 years 9 mos., born in OH, both parents born in OH, no occupation.

They lived at 1044 Eastlawn (?) Avenue in what I presume is an apartment building. Their rent was $100 per month and they did not own a radio.

If you don't have a copy of the census sheet, PM me with your email address and I will send you the image. If all this is old news to you, I'm sorry!

-Harold

[lin94579]

Dear Harold. Thanks for your reply. That is definately the Bert Stock I am looking for. They were living in Michigan when Bert and Marcella were killed by a drunk driver in Dec 1940 (or at least that is how my father remembers it). My dad thought that Bert had a band but then got a new job (more respectable job?) as a Four Roses Bourbon salesman. Ironic that he was killed by a drunk driver!
Anyway, Bert (II) who was about 15 and his sister, Mildred Rae (about were then raised by my grandparents, Clarence John (CJ) and Edith Schirack in Canton, Ohio. My dad was about 12 when this happened and he and Bert were as close as brothers! Bert was very musically gifted---could play the piano and trumpet by ear (never had any lessons---maybe his dad taught him!). I would love the census report---my email is [email protected]. My dad just turned 83 and was amazed when I showed him the articles about Whitey Kaufman's Pennsylvania Sereneders and his Uncle Bert Stock! There is a picture of the band and just two men without instruments---we are thinking that Bert was the man on the left---he looked so much like his son. Anyway, thanks again for your very fast reply and I am looking forward to seeing the census report. Bert's wife, Marcella, was born in Indiana (Bryant) and was the younger sister of CJ Schirack. Linda Schirack-Sowell

[FayeinColumbus]

Hello,

I was conducting an online search of my family, and came across this site. Bert Stock Sr was my grandfather, whom I never met. My dad was Bert Stock Jr.
Linda, is that you in this thread? I am looking to gather as much info as I can. In fact I googled "Bert Stock and his Orchestra" and found this: http://youtu.be/feOnbL9PE-w

I will bookmark this site and return to see if you have any more info. Thank you so much!
Faye Stock Oney

[Harold Aherne]

Welcome, Faye! The video you linked to is a recording made by Bert Stock and his orchestra for Gennett in November or December 1929. Here's a tentative discography of his output, which is in the usual arrangement of matrix number, title, and label + catalogue number (label abbreviations are: Gen=Gennett, Ch=Champion, Sprt=Supertone). The dots are placeholders to prevent everything from being jumbled together.

November-December 1929
X2526.........Turn on the Heat........................Gen 7059, Ch 15886, Sprt 9585
X2527.........Honeysuckle Rose.....................Gen 7059, Ch 15932, Sprt 9585
X2528.........'Tain’t No Sin........................... Gen 7075, Ch 15886

12 May 1930
G16594........Get Happy............................... ...Gen 7213, Ch 16018, Sprt 9751
G16595........Sing a Song.................................Ch 16646
G16596........You Can’t Get to Heaven That Way...Gen 7213, Ch 16018, Sprt 9751

The Champion issues from the 1929 session were released under the pseudonym of "Benny Benson and his orchestra". "Sing a Song" was unissued until 1933. I don't (yet) have a copy of Brian Rust's American Dance Band Discography or the revision published a couple of years ago, so corrections and amendments are welcome to any of the foregoing.

Hope this is of some use!

-HA

[FayeinColumbus]

Harold, thank you so much!

I found this site, which has my grandfather Bert Stock's name listed:
http://www.redhotjazz.com/kaufman.html

I also think that might be him in the top photo, seated, 2nd from the left.

I have been scanning a bunch of old photos and recognized him.
Once I get my photos scanned, I'll upload them to my Flickr account, and you can feel free to use any or all of them as you wish.

Thank you again for this website, and for your research. I will probably be back soon!

Faye Stock Oney

[FayeinColumbus]

Hello Harold, Faye here again.

I have just finished scanning and uploading some old photos of my dad and his parents from the late 1920s. There are some photos of Whitey Kaufman's band members with my dad as a baby!

Here is the link to my Flickr account. There are some other items there that might be of interest. Let me know what you think.

Faye Stock Oney

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fayeincolumbus

[Harold Aherne]

All of the photos are quite fascinating and wonderful to see--thank you very much indeed for sharing them.

-HA

[hightechhobo]

There is a biographical article about Whitey Kaufman in the Lebanon Daily News of Sunday, September 30, 1972. I have a pdf copy of it. If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll send it. I will be devoting a segment of my radio show, "Rapidly Rotating Records" to Whitey on Sept. 7, 2014. It's a weekly, one hour show of 1920s and 30s pop and jazz and is broadcast over KISL-FM 88.7 Avalon, but is also available on demand, streaming online at http://www.RapidlyRotatingRecords.com" target="_blank.

[ottermole]

My late friend (George E. Green) was in Whitey's band back in 1925-26 and toured with him extensively. He played Bass. I have his diary from 1926 and in an entry dated February 1, 1926 he tells about his frustrations with the recording process: "Well after our day of recording I feel like the straw did (the last one) the one that broke the Elephant's back. It's devilish straining work & I wasn't the only one that was nervous. Mr. King the overseer of Recording in the Victor Laboratories, could make anyone nervous. There wasn't a person in the band that didn't get plenty of calling down & I got my share along with the rest. This recording isn't what it's cracked up to be even tho it's very good experience, yes experience of the best. Stayed at Camden Hotel."

In 1925-26 Whitey Kaufman's address was 28 N 10th, Lebanon, PA.

Oh, and about Bert Stock... George roomed with him when Bert joined the band on Sunday, January 10, 1926; he replaced piano player (Ludwig) that quit Whitey's band on January 9th.

Excerpt from diary: Hagerstown, MD, January 10, 1926: "Am rooming with Bert Stock our new piano player. He is O.K. & I like him very much. It sure is nice to have a room mate that you like. One has a much better time when there is someone to bum around with all the while."

Hope this bit of info helps.

[Harold Aherne]

All wonderful information! Monday, 1 February 1926 was a busy day for the Kaufman orchestra in the recording studio: 4 takes each of "Deep River Blues" (take 5 issued on Victor 20125), "Tiny Town" (take 4 on the reverse of Victor 20125), and "Tamiami Trail (take 4 on Victor 19996).

For whatever it's worth, Victor 20125 was the last issue for the Pennsylvania Serenaders and the only one that had its first pressing on the Victor scroll label. Further recording sessions in March 1927 didn't yield any issues masters, and that was (AFAIK) the end of Whitey Kaufman's commercial recording career.

-HA

[FayeinColumbus]

Hello, wow, it's been a few years since I visited this page. I wanted to add more content to the conversation.

This is a link to Bert Stock Orchestra recordings they made at Gennette Records in Richmond, Indiana.
If anyone comes across any more recordings that I'm unaware of, please let me know.

https://soundcloud.com/fayeincbus/sets/ ... -orchestra

This is a link to my Flickr album for Bert. I came across more stuff that I'm in the process of scanning, and I will be adding to this album, so check back periodically.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fayeincol ... 236142750/

By the way, ottermole, thank you so much for providing that tidbit of information regarding Grandpa Bert Stock!

[s.w.a.c.]

Thanks for posting! Nice to hear a vintage version of 'Tain't No Sin to Take Off Your Skin (and Dance Around in Your Bones), I only have a more recent version by ukulele queen Janet Klein.