Clifton A. Edwards (1895-1971), also known as "Ukelele Ike", was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 20s and early 30s. He also did voices for animated cartoons later in his career, and is best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney's Pinocchio (1940). Edwards taught himself to play ukulele (then often spelled "ukelele") to serve as his own accompanist (choosing it because it was the cheapest instrument in the music shop). He was nicknamed "Ukelele Ike" by a club owner who could never remember his name. He got his first break in 1918 at the Arsonia Cafe in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed a song called "Ja-Da", written by the club's pianist, Bob Carleton. Edwards and Carleton made it a hit on the vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville headliner Joe Frisco hired Edwards as part of his act, which was featured at the Palace in New York City, the most prestigious vaudeville theater, and later in the Ziegfeld Follies. Edwards made his first records in 1919. He recorded early examples of jazz scat singing in 1922. The following year he signed a contract with Pathé Records. He became one of the most popular singers of that decade, appearing in several Broadway shows. He recorded many of the pop and novelty hits of the day. In 1924, Edwards performed as the headliner at the Palace, the pinnacle of vaudeville success. Also in that year, he was featured in George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin's first Broadway musical Lady Be Good, alongside Fred and Adele Astaire. In 1925, his recording of "Paddlin’ Madeleine Home" reached number three on the pop charts. His recording of "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" was number one for one week on the U.S. chart in 1928. The following year, his recording of "Singin' In The Rain" was number one for three weeks. n 1929, Cliff Edwards was playing at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, MGM hired Edwards to appear in early sound movies. Edwards was one of the stars in the feature Hollywood Revue of 1929, including the film debut of his hit "Singin' in the Rain". He appeared in a total of 33 films for MGM through 1933. Edwards's own compositions included "(I'm Cryin' 'Cause I Know I'm) Losing You", "You're So Cute (Mama O' Mine)", "Little Somebody Of Mine", and "I Want To Call You 'Sweet Mama'". He also recorded a few "off-color" novelty aongs for under-the-counter sales, including "I'm A Bear In A Lady's Boudoir" and "Give It To Mary With Love".Edwards, more than any other performer, was responsible for the soaring popularity of the ukulele.[3] Millions of ukuleles were sold during the decade, and Tin Pan Alley publishers added ukulele chords to standard sheet music. Edwards always played American Martin ukuleles favoring the small soprano model in his early career. In his later years, he moved to the sweeter, large tenor ukulele more suitable for crooning, which was becoming popular in the 1930s. This lovely record was made in 1928, featuring an uncredited orchestra.
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