"Happy Feet" is a song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen, first published in 1930. It was originally introduced in the Universal Pictures revue film King of Jazz (1930), where it was performed by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra with the Rhythm Boys.[citation needed]

"Happy Feet"
Song by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra with the Rhythm Boys
Published1930 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc.
RecordedFebruary 10, 1930 (1930-02-10)[1]
Genre
Length3:00
LabelColumbia W149810
Composer(s)Milton Ager
Lyricist(s)Jack Yellen

Background

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In film, the song was introduced in one of the musical-dancing sequences. It begins with the verse and chours sung by the Rhythm Boys (featuring future multimedia star Bing Crosby in his onscreen debut) with the Sisters G reprising the chorus in German. The rest of "Happy Feet" sequence contains the latter's dance show along with the Russell Markert Girls.[citation needed] A memorable "rubber legs" solo was danced by Al Norman.[2]

According to the labels on the shellac records, the target dance for the song was a foxtrot.[1]

Notable recordings

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Date Main recording artist Vocalist(s) Notes Ref.
February 10, 1930 Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra The Rhythm Boys Featuring Bing Crosby, Harry Barris and Al Rinker. [1]
April 9, 1930 Leo Reisman and his Orchestra Lew Conrad
May 8, 1930 Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra Smith Ballew
May 9, 1930 Jack Hylton and his Orchestra Pat O’Malley
May 26, 1930 The Mariners Trio
October 7, 1930 The Revelers
October 14, 1930 Cab Calloway and his Orchestra Cab Calloway
October 3, 1933 Horace Henderson and his Orchestra Henry Allen

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jack Yellen – Discography of American Historical Recordings".
  2. ^ "The Happy Feet of Al "Crazy Legs" Norman". Travalanche. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 2023-07-23.