Arthur Tracy

Arthur Tracy (born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky; June 25, 1899 – October 5, 1997) was an American vocalist and actor, billed as The Street Singer. His performances in theatre, films and radio, along with his recordings, brought him international fame in the 1930s. Late evening radio listeners tuned in to hear announcer David Ross' introduction ("Round the corner and down your way comes The Street Singer") and Tracy's familiar theme song, "Marta, Rambling Rose of the Wildwood."

Biography Born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky in Kamenetz-Podolsky, Russian Empire (now Ukraine), he emigrated to the United States with his parents, listed as Mordeche and Fannie Trasowitzkey, and sisters, in October 1906; and appeared in various New York amateur revues, where he was seen by William S. Paley who offered him a 15-minute CBS radio program.

To avoid embarrassing his family if his show failed and to prevent being blackballed from future vaudeville bookings for having appeared on radio, Tracy decided to make his identity a mystery and borrowed a billing from the title of Frederick Lonsdale's musical The Street Singer (1924). and he had an extended stay in UK. He toured the variety stages extensively over the next few years and appeared on radio. During the next four years, he made four films in the UK. He returned to the USA in July 1939. In 1967, Tracy was on holiday in the UK and he was persuaded to make a five-week variety tour appearing in Nottingham, Birmingham and Liverpool.

In 1978, Arthur Tracy was crowned King of the Beaux Arts Ball. He presided with Queen Hope Hampton, the one-time silent screen star.

Arthur Tracy's 1937 recording of "Pennies from Heaven" was chosen from hundreds of versions for the 1981 movie of that name, with Vernel Bagneris lip-synching to Tracy's voice. The film brought Tracy out of retirement, and at age 82 he returned as a cabaret singer at The Cookery in Greenwich Village in 1982. He died in Manhattan, New York, on October 5, 1997, at the age of 98. :... aka Interval for Romance Command Performance (1937) .... Street Singer Limelight (1936) .... Bob Grant ... aka Backstage (USA) ... aka Street Singer's Serenade Flirtation (1934) The Big Broadcast (1932)