Age 90
Lead vocals on
Who Woulden't Love You
On A Slow Boat to China
Three Little Fishes
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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047
RIP Harry Babbot Big band singer with Kay Kyser
Moderator: Dave Mudgett
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Janice Brooks
- Posts: 3115
- Joined: 7 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Pleasant Gap Pa
- State/Province: -
- Country: United States
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Janice Brooks
- Posts: 3115
- Joined: 7 Mar 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Pleasant Gap Pa
- State/Province: -
- Country: United States
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Harry Babbitt, who sang in his warm, high-baritone voice with the Kay Kyser big band on such hits as "The White Cliffs of Dover," died April 9, his son said. He was 90.
Babbitt sang with the Kyser band from 1938 to about 1949 but also served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946.
Dubbed "Handsome Harry" by Kyser, Babbitt sang on several hits, including "Three Little Fishies," "On A Slow Boat to China," "(Lights Out) `Til Reveille," "He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings," "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle" and "The Umbrella Man."
Babbitt's high voice was later used on a solo recording of "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." He was even responsible for the laugh on "Woody Woodpecker," Kyser's 1948 hit novelty tune.
Babbitt also appeared in seven movies that starred Kyser and was featured on "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge," a popular comedy-musical radio quiz show on NBC.
Babbitt retired from show business in 1964 and started a successful career in real estate.
After Kyser died in 1985, Babbitt obtained rights to the band's name and catalog from Kyser's widow and toured the country with a new band. He stopped performing in the mid-1990s.
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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047
Babbitt sang with the Kyser band from 1938 to about 1949 but also served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946.
Dubbed "Handsome Harry" by Kyser, Babbitt sang on several hits, including "Three Little Fishies," "On A Slow Boat to China," "(Lights Out) `Til Reveille," "He Wears a Pair of Silver Wings," "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle" and "The Umbrella Man."
Babbitt's high voice was later used on a solo recording of "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." He was even responsible for the laugh on "Woody Woodpecker," Kyser's 1948 hit novelty tune.
Babbitt also appeared in seven movies that starred Kyser and was featured on "Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge," a popular comedy-musical radio quiz show on NBC.
Babbitt retired from show business in 1964 and started a successful career in real estate.
After Kyser died in 1985, Babbitt obtained rights to the band's name and catalog from Kyser's widow and toured the country with a new band. He stopped performing in the mid-1990s.
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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047
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Gary Harris
- Posts: 119
- Joined: 30 Apr 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Hendersonville, TN, USA
- State/Province: Tennessee
- Country: United States
"Slow Boat To China" was written because of a remark a guy made during a card game. This fellow was losing and he said, "I'd Like to Get You on a Slow Boat to China". The writer of the song was there and he cashed in by writing, "Slow Boat to China."
One of the Kay Kaiser movies about scared me to death. They had a device hooked up to a horn that the player could talk with this scarry voice, a type of Pete Drake thing. At the end of the movie they showed how this was done. I was only a kid when I saw this movie.
Kay was a conscientious objector during world war II. This ended his career.
One of the Kay Kaiser movies about scared me to death. They had a device hooked up to a horn that the player could talk with this scarry voice, a type of Pete Drake thing. At the end of the movie they showed how this was done. I was only a kid when I saw this movie.
Kay was a conscientious objector during world war II. This ended his career.