Kaye, Danny: Danny Kaye!

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Cat No: 8120775

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Release Date: 30 June 2004

Label: Naxos - Nostalgia / Naxos Nostalgic

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 636943277522

Genres: Jazz

Description
DANNY KAYE! Original 1941-52 RecordingsThe recordings on this CD begin in the early 1940s whenDanny Kaye was still refining his act and making his debut on Broadway. By the time the last tracks wererecorded in 1952, Kaye had become an internationally famous movie star,performed before presidents and royalty, and was one of the world's best-lovedshowmen. His phenomenal rise tothe pinnacle of his profession was hardly an overnight success. Kaye spent years transforming himselffrom that of a Borscht Belt \tummler (one who keeps audiences enter-tained inbetween acts) to that of one of the most versatile entertainers in showbusiness. Born David Daniel Kaminski in Brooklyn, NY, on 18 January1913, Kaye began his career in 1929 as part of a duo with a friend named LouEisen. The two sixteen-year-oldswere employed at the White Roe Hotel, a popular Jewish summer resort located inthe Catskill Mountains in mid-state New York. It was at this time that David decided to use "Danny" (hismiddle name) for his stage name. He also shortened his surname to Kamin, but after a brother came homefrom the army and changed his name to Kaye, Danny did likewise. The following summer, Kaye was upgraded to the role ofstooge and began developing his own zany brand of humour. Having grown up listen-ing to Yiddishsongs, Kaye became fascinated with the vocal style of cantors, who would oftenimprovise during synagogue services. His use of double-talk and gibberish was partially derived from Yiddishsongs such as "Rumania, Rumania," as performed by Aaron Lebedoff. Kaye's mentor at White Roe, NatLichtman, taught him how to use his body, his face, and his hands to augmenthis comedic delivery, even teaching Kaye to comically "conduct" classicalmusic, a talent that he would use often in later years.Kaye struggled through the early 1930s, appearing invaudeville shows and eventually winding up on tour in Asia. Unable to speak the languages, Kayecommunicated by using mime and facial expressions. He also developed a talent for dialects and improvising gibberishduring his songs, which were funny in any language. The first phrase he learned was git-gat-giddle with ageet-ga-zay, which he then would embellish, incorporating it into one of thefirst songs he used in his act, Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher. Kaye worked it into his Saturday nightrepertoire, cajoling his audience into repeating every line he sang. The payoff would be when he woulddeliver an extra-long string of nonsense syllables that would prove impossibleto copy.During this early period, Kaye also added the jazz standardDinah to his repertoire, beginning the song with a spoken introduction inRussian dialect. Kaye wouldpronounce the title "Dee-nah," which in effect changed every other rhyming wordin the song (China became "chee-nah;" Carolina became "Caro-lee-na," etc). Toward the end he launched into ahigh-speed chorus of git
Tracklisting