"Puttin' on the Ritz" Irving Berlin classic LYRICS Jan Garber Orchestra = Putting on the Ritz song

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Jan Garber and His Greater Columbia Recording Orchestra

Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Columbia 2115-D

January 24, 1930.

Jan Garber was born on November 5, 1894, in Indianapolis.

He died on October 5, 1977, in Shreveport.

He was known as "The Idol of the Airwaves" playing sweet jazz for the most part--orchestrated music instead of improved (like Paul Whiteman and Guy Lombardo). In the 1920s he led his musicians in some "hot" performances, but his music became middle-of-the-road as the years progressed.

He was a fine violin player. He formed the Garber-Davis Orchestra with pianist Milton Davis from 1921.

Composer Irving Berlin died at age 101 in 1989. The "Ritz" refers to the posh hotel chain built by Cesar Ritz. This song is about people aspiring to be seen as part of society's fashionable set--wannabees eager to appear better off than they are.

Musicians include Jimmy McPartland, Adrian Rollini, and Maxwell Covert (vocalist).

Have you seen the well-to-do
Upon Lennox Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare
With their noses in the air?

High hats and narrow collars
White spats and fifteen dollars
Spending every dime
For a wonderful time.

If you're blue and you don't know
where to go to, why don't you go
where Harlem sits? Puttin' on the
Ritz! Spangled gowns upon a
bevy of high browns from down
the levee--all misfits!

Puttin' on the Ritz!

Why, that's where each and every
Lulu Belle goes every Thursday
evening with her swell beaus--
rubbin' elbows.

Come with me and we'll attend their
jubilee and see them spend their last
two bits puttin' on the Ritz.



"Puttin' on the Ritz" Irving Berlin classic LYRICS Jan Garber and His Columbia Recording Orchestra