All recordings are from the original source material
and digitally re-mastered to reduce surface noise.
Esther Walker (1894-1943
Esther Walker was a
popular musical comedy star in the 1920s.
Born Esther Thomas in Louisville, Kentucky on October 18, 1894, she had
three sisters and four brothers.
As she began her stage career, Esther Thomas adopted the stage name of
Esther Walker.
In 1919 Esther appeared on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in the
production of
"Monte Cristo, Jr.".
Later in the same year she could be found at the 44th Street Theatre in
the short-lived production of
"Hello, Alexander" with songs by composer
Jean Schwartz.
Esther Walker's short recording career ran from 1919-1920 and 1925-1927.
The height of her recording success was probably in 1926 when she recorded
the Brunswick sides "Ya Gotta Know How To Love" and "As Long As I Have You
And You Have Me".
Esther Thomas married famous Texan movie theater owner Karl Hoblitzelle.
Mr. Hoblitzelle, born in Missouri, was an event manager at the St. Louis
World's Fair.
He later moved to Dallas and started a successful chain of vaudeville
houses and movie theaters.
In 1942 Karl and Esther chartered a philanthropic foundation - the "Hoblitzelle
Foundation" which provided funds to schools, hospitals, agriculture, and
other interests.
The foundation still thrives today.
Esther Walker Thomas Hoblitzelle died of cancer in Dallas on July 26, 1943
at the age of 48. The bulk of her estate went to the foundation.
This CD includes her major recorded output made at the height of her recording career.
These recordings show her exciting singing jazz style that as very popular.
There is a creative jazz improvisation interjected in her song lyrics that was
unique.
Her personality comes though well in the recordings.
Esther Walker 1920's
Blues& Jazz Vocals Vol.1 (Recorded 1919-1926)
1-Sahara (We’ll Soon Be
Dry Like You) [Recorded July 1919]
2-Nobody Knows And Nobody
Seems To Care [Recorded July 1919]
3-Sweet Kisses [Recorded
September 1919]
4-Blues My Naughty
Sweetie Gives To Me [Recorded September 1919]
5-How Sorry You’ll Be (Wait’ll
You See) [Recorded November 1919]
6-Slow And Easy [Recorded
May 1920]
7-What’chaGonna Do When
There Ain’t No Jazz? [Recorded May 1920]
8-What Did I Tell Ya?
[December 1925]
9-Five Foot Two Eyes Of
Blue [Recorded December 1925]
10-I Want Somebody To
Cheer Me Up [Recorded January 1926]
11-I Love My Baby
[Recorded November 1926]
12-I’m In Love With You
That’s Why [Recorded March 1926]
13-Poor Papa [ March
1926]
14-I’m Lonely Without You
(With Ed Smalle) [Recorded March 1926]
15-As Long As I Have And
You Have Me (With Ed Smalle) [Recorded March 1926]
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