Art Gillham

Art Gillham, (January 1, 1895, St. Louis, Missouri – June 6, 1961, Atlanta, Georgia), was an American songwriter, who was among the first crooners as a pioneer radio artist and a recording artist for Columbia Records.

With Billy Smythe and Scott Middleton he wrote "Hesitation Blues", which he also recorded as one of the first electrical recordings for Columbia Records(Rust). The song is heard in the following movies The Public Enemy, Of Human Bondage and Fireman Save My Child (IMDB). Gillham and Smythe wrote approximately 100 songs together, including "Mean Blues," "Just Forget," "The Deacon Told Me I Was Good," "Just Waiting for You," "Crying Again," "Things That Remind Me of You" (sheet music) and the first successful electrical recording, "You May Be Lonesome" (Rust). With J. Russell Robinson he wrote "In My Sweetheart's Arms".

As a song plugger for Ted Browne Music, Art Gillham traveled around the United States. (multiple contemporary newspapers) When radio began he would stop at radio stations in his travels to promote the music by Browne and other music publishers. In 1923 Gillham was dared to sing over the radio, and the response encouraged him to continue. He sang in a soft crooning voice, and in February, 1924, while appearing on WSB (AM) in Atlanta, he was dubbed "The Whispering Pianist" by the station's general manager, Lambdin Kay. (Atlanta Journal, February 24, 1924). In 1924 he gave advice to Irene Beasley that encouraged her to begin her radio and recording career.

On November 4, 1924 he appeared with Will Rogers, Wendell Hall and Carson Robison during the Presidential Election Night broadcast of The Eveready Hour over WEAF and an 18-station hook-up. Before networks were formed Gillham appeared on over 300 radio stations. (numerous contemporary newspapers) Sometimes he broadcast from airfields with a portable keyboard on the field. (photos from his scrapbook) In 1930 he had two CBS programs: "Breakfast With Art" and "Syncopated Pessimism". (Newspaper articles and radio schedules) He ended his radio programs with the question "Have you got a cup of coffee in your pocket?"

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