Arthur Tracy American vocalist Date of Birth: 25.06.1899 Country: USA

Biography of Arthur Tracy

Arthur Tracy, an American vocalist, achieved worldwide fame in the 1930s through his performances in theater, cinema, television, and album recordings. He was born as Abba Avrom Tracovutsky on June 25, 1899, in Kamenetz-Podolsk, Russia. In April 1906, he emigrated to the United States with his parents, sisters, and brother, settling in Philadelphia after passing through Ellis Island. In 1913, he became a naturalized citizen, and from then on, his parents were known as Morris and Fannie Tracy.

Arthur Tracy graduated from Central High School in 1917 and initially pursued architecture studies at the University of Pennsylvania. However, he abandoned his studies in favor of a singing career. While working as a furniture salesman, Tracy performed in Yiddish theaters and vaudeville shows. In 1924, he moved to New York City, where he became a regular performer in vaudeville and amateur revues. It was during this time that he caught the attention of William Paley, who offered him a spot on a 15-minute radio program on the CBS network.

To maintain secrecy from his family and avoid potential backlash from vaudeville performers if the radio show failed, Tracy adopted the title of "The Street Singer" from Frederick Lonsdale's play. Although listeners demanded to know his real name, it took Arthur Tracy five months to reveal it after the program's debut in 1931. The following year, Tracy found himself in Hollywood, starring in the comedy musical film "The Big Broadcast" directed by Frank Tuttle. The film featured other radio stars such as Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, and the Boswell Sisters.

Tracy is credited with popularizing romantic renditions of songs such as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," "I'll See You Again," and "Trees." He also brought a fresh perspective to songs like "Everything I Have Is Yours," "Red Sails in the Sunset," "Harbour Lights," "Danny Boy," and "The Whistling Waltz." His song "Pennies from Heaven" in 1937 was later featured in the 1981 film adaptation of the same name, performed convincingly by Vernal Bagneris. This film revitalized Tracy's career, and at the age of 82, he returned as a chansonnier in Greenwich Village in 1982. The New York Times published a positive article about Tracy, written by John Wilson, praising his "captivating charm" and noting that he "captivates audiences with his mood and atmosphere, disarming skeptics."