BERGER, IRRAL

Irral Berger, 1973

Homebase: Echo Lake, Route No. 1, Box 430, Snoqualmie, Wash
Stats: b. 1884 -
Misc Notes: In the early 1890s her family moved out west  from Wisvonsin. Upon arriving at the train station in Issaquah, Washington, she was abducted by gypsies. "I was taken that very same day that we came in. The gypsies were right across the tracks and I heard their music. I was crazy about music even then, so I wandered over and they went wild for me. I wasn't yet 5 years old. They were wonderful to me." In time a family friend spotted her at a nearby gypsy camp, and "My mother promised she wouldn't say anything about it if they went away and didn't come back. I was with them about a year, I guess" [Seattle Times, March 1, 1973]. Soon after returning home she began teaching herseldf to play the piano. In Hollywood by 1908 she was cast as an extra in various silent movies. A soprano vocalist, Irral Berger began her public singing career in the vaudeville days of the old Orpheum Theater circuit. "As a young and pretty girl [she] sang, danced and played half-a-dozen musical instruments [violin, guitar, accordion, pipe organ and grand piano] on Seattle Stages. She knew Alex Pantages well, took her bows along with such vaudeville stars as Robert Atheon, Elizabeth Hale, 'Dad' Russell and Dick Lonsdale." [Seattle Times 11.18.64]. In December 1963 she entered a studio to record a demo recording as a present for her daughter.

In 1964, and at age 80, Berger went to Albany, California, to record some original songs. Among them was a novelty song, "Mother's Old Rocking Chair"  that kicked off with an electric guitar riff, a snappy shuffle drum beat, and featured her warbly, high-pitched, and somewhat-tortuous double-tracked vocals.

Released on the Irral Records label, it became a quick hit in the San Francisco / Bay Area radio market. Developing a stage act where, as the "Swingin' Granny", she sat in a rocking chair, sang and then began doing The Twist dance, Berger became a sensation, making appearances in Los Angeles on TV programs including the Steve Allen Show and the Art Linkletter Show. On New Years Eve 1964, the 80-year old Berger was the headlining act on a holiday concert at San Quentin Prison where she debuted her latest rocker, "Do Dipty."

She reportedly released as many as eight different records - including Irral Records #GSR-702 which notes on the label: "Granny Berger - 84 Years Old." A good soul, Berger was known for helping others: for example, she took people who needed convalescent care into her home on her 152-acre ranch at Echo Lake. In addition Berger helped a young black singer named Joe Simon record some of her songs which were also issued by Irral Records.

In 1967 she  appeared on television - including on KOMO-TV's Buddy Webber Show, and in 1971 Swingin' Granny - the rock 'n' roll singer - thoroughly stumped the panel on ABC-TV's What's My Line program. In 1973 Berger was preparing to release a full album of her recordings -- helped in part by noted Seattle musician / arranger William Coburn. Among the other songs Berger composed were: "Pioneer Square"  - and: "Adorable You," "Always of You Alone," "Granny's Lullaby," "It Was Only A Dream," "Just Like Yesterday," "Little Gypsy Mine," "Lovely Moon Of Dreams," "No One Else Will Do," "When You Are Near," and "Within My Treasure Chest."

ALSO SEE: 
1.) Swingin' Granny

Irral Berger, 1964

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