Description
The American Herbert Spencer (1877-1944) studied singing with none other than Caruso. Alongside his singing career he was also a successful accompanist (indeed, he accompanied the likes of Mae West) and an established composer and arranger in the era of Vaudeville – a style of entertainment akin to the UK’s Music Hall or Variety.
In 1916 Spencer’s charming piece Underneath the Stars (a slow foxtrot) was danced by the Dolly Sisters in Ziegfield’s extravagant and slightly risqué after-hours show, Midnight Frolic. Such was the sisters’ popularity they were reportedly paid the equivalent of almost $50,000 a week to appear in the show which was routinely frequented by the rich and famous of the day. Underneath the Stars also came to the attention of the world famous violinist, Fritz Kreisler, who regularly performed an arrangement of the piece as an encore. The violinist Charlie Siem has also more recently released an album entitled Under the Stars which features Herbert Spencer’s endearing miniature.
