DESCRIPTION:
"Sam, the Old Accordion Man"
Words and Music by Walter Donaldson
Sung by Ruth Etting
Recorded March 1, 1927, New York

Ruth Etting was born Nov. 23, 1897 in David City, Nebraska. She attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; originally intended to be a fashion designer; At 17 she got a job in a Chicago night club working on costumes. Debut in chorus of revue at the Marigold Gardens Theatre, Chicago, 1925. She sang on early radio eventually winning title of "Chicago's Sweetheart." New York stage debut in the 1927 edition of Ziegfeld Follies (New Amsterdam), August 16, 1927. Appeared in the same theatre, December 4, 1928, in "Whoopee" with Eddie Cantor. Several other reviews including the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1931." Debut in London in "Tranatlantic Rhythm" at the Adelphi, October 1, 1934. Made several films, the best-remembered being "Roman Scandals", 1933. Composed several popular songs, "Wistful and Blue" and "When You're With Somebody Else' and "Maybe, Who Knows," being among them. Doris Day played the role of Etting in the 1955 movie "Love Me or Leave Me." James Cagney co-starred.