YORGESSON, YOGI
Homebase: Tacoma, WA.
Stats:
b. 19/21/08 Tacoma, WA - d. 5/20/56 Tonopah, NV
Misc Notes:
Birth name: Harry Edward Skarbo.
Professional name: Harry Stewart
Performing name: Yogi Yorgesson
"YOGI YORGESSON"
by Peter Blecha
[excerpt from "Stan Boreson" essay, courtesy & copyright, 2008, HistoryLink.org]
"Born in Tacoma in 1908, Harry Edward Skarbo was hired in 1927 at Seattle’s KVI radio -- first as an announcer (“Harry Stewart”), and then weatherman, news reporter, and finally as a banjo player. Around 1931 Stewart headed off to California where he created a comedic routine based on speaking a funny sort of American-English smothered in a Scandinavian dialect. That skill evolved into an improbably incongruous stage character -- Yogi Yorgesson: “The Hindu Mystic” -- a “Scandihoovian” rube who also had a spiritual and omniscient East Indian guru-like vibe. Thus, Yorgesson -- replete with a costume consisting of logger boots, an exotic loincloth, a plaid lumberjack shirt, and a Hindu turban -- became a radio and recording star -- his novelty 78 on S&G Records (“My Clam Digger’s Sweetheart”) became a sizeable enough hit in 1948 to prompt the new (and soon-to-be big-time label) Capitol Records to buy out his contract and release many subsequent discs by him.
Over the next years Stewart recorded many additional comedic songs including one with a local reference to Tacoma’s Titlow Park: “Tillie From Titlow.” In fact, Tacoma remained an important part of Stewart’s life and every time he returned to visit friends and family the Tacoma News Tribune covered it all like he was returning royalty. While in the area he always gave back to the community by performing at each September’s Puyallup Fair and also took on a few nightclub engagements. It was at one such evening performance at Seattle’s old Palomar Theater where the acclaimed “America’s King of Scandinavian Humor” first crossed paths with a kindred spirit, Stan Boreson...."
MISC NOTES:
Subtitle: INTRODUCING YOGI YORGESSON'S FAMILY ALBUM
Side 1
1.) General Instruction
2.) Little Knucklehead
3.) Sweet Sixteen
4.) Grandma
Side 2
1.) Grandpa
2.) Brother - In - Law
3.) Just One Of Those Days
4.) Aunt Frieda
5.) The Little Woman
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White background. Black logo, numerals and lettering including PROMOTIONAL RECORD FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
A-SIDE MATRIX: PRO - 95
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: PRO 95 1 D star (etched and stamped)
B-SIDE MATRIX: PRO - 96
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE: PRO 961 D star (etched and stamped)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Johnny Duffy and The Scandahoovians
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78r m
DISC NOTES: *
Vocal with Orchestra / Vocal with Orchestra
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White background. Black logo, numerals and lettering including: PROMOTIONAL RECORD *
A-SIDE MATRIX: 10704
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Tacit Music Co. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: 10827
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Tomlin - Poe - Grier
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Bourne, Inc. (ASCAP)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Johnny Duffy and the Scandahoovians
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES:*
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White (cream) background. Black logo, numerals and lettering.*
2.) A - B retail label. Purple background. Silver logo, numerals and lettering.*
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.)
2.)
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: The Johnny Duffy Trio
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B retail label. Blue background. Silver numerals and lettering. *
2.) A - B retail label. Dark blue background. Silver numerals and lettering.:*
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) SG 319
2.) SG 319
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) SG 320
2.) SG 320
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
[caption id="attachment_42480" align="alignleft" width="517"] Billboard magazine ad October 8, 1949.[/caption]
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES:
A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:
B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Johnny Duffy's Scandihoovians
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White background. Black numerals and lettering including FOR DISC JOCKEYS ONLY NOT TO BE SOLD *
2.) A - B retail label. Light blue background. Silver numerals and lettering.
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 3010 - S
2.) 3010 -S
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.) 3010-S
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Nordyke Pub. Co.
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 3010 - G
2.) 3010 - G
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.) 3010-G
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Nordyke Pub. Co.
MISC NOTES:
Also released in 45 rpm format (3904)
1.) A - B retail label. Purple background. Silver numerals and lettering *
2.) A - B retail label. Purple background. Silver horizontal lines center left and right of spindle hole, numerals and lettering. *
3..) A - B retail label. Yellow and Orange background. Black logo, numerals and lettering. *
"I Yoost Go Nuts At Christmas" Album Reissues:
1985. Side two track #1 on compilation lp Christmas Comedy Classics (PRI Records SL - 9306)
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: The Johnny Duffy Trio
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Novelty Vocal / Novelty Vocal
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. Yellowish background. Black logo, numerals and lettering. *
2.) A - B retail label. Purple background. Silver logo, numerals and lettering. *
A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 5091 - Z
2.) 5091 - Z
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.) 5091 - 2D 5 8
A-SIDE COMPOSER: J. Pierpont (Adapted by Harry Stewart)
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 5092 - Y
2.) 5092 - Y
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.) 5091 - 2D 5 8
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: (BM)
MISC NOTES:
"My Little Old Shack" based on My Little Grass Shack In Kaelakekue, Hawaii
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Johnny Duffy and The Scandahoovians
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B retail label. Purple background. Silver logo, numerals and lettering.
A-SIDE MATRIX: 2388 - Z
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Beechwood (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: 6393 - Y
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Noble - Cogswell - Harrison
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Miller Music (ASCAP)
MISC NOTES:
LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Johnny Duffy and The Scandahoovians
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:
FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78rpm
DISC NOTES: *
Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B retail label. Purple backreound. Silver logo, numerals and lettering.
A-SIDE MATRIX: 10047
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Tacit Music Co. (BMI)
B-SIDE MATRIX: 10048
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Harry Stewart
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Tacit Music Co. (BMI)