Cliff Edwards

The recorded working language is English. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are jazz and vaudeville. Places of work recorded in the authority are St. Work by Cliff Edwards is recorded in the collections of Internet Archive. Distinctions recorded are Disney Legends and Grammy Hall of Fame.

• Name — Cliff Edwards • Born — 14 June 1895 • Birthplace — Hannibal, Missouri, U.S. • Died — 17 July 1971 • Place of death — Hollywood, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery • Other Names — Ukulele Ike • Occupation — * Musician • actor • Years Active — 1918–1971

Edwards was born in Hannibal, Missouri. He left school at age 14 and soon moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Charles, Missouri, where he entertained as a singer in saloons. As many places had pianos in bad shape or none at all, Edwards taught himself to play ukulele to serve as his own accompanist (choosing it because it was the cheapest instrument in the music shop). He was nicknamed "Ukulele Ike" by a waiter who couldn't 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 phonograph 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 the 1920s, appearing in several Broadway shows. He recorded many of the pop and novelty hits of the day, including "California, Here I Come", "Hard Hearted Hannah", "Yes Sir, That's My Baby", and "I'll See You in My Dreams". Some of the labels of Edwards' early recordings identify him as "Ukelele Ike," a then common misspelling of "ukulele." In 1924, Edwards performed as the headliner at the Palace, the pinnacle of his vaudeville success. That year he also featured in George and Ira Gershwin's first Broadway musical Lady Be Good, alongside Fred and Adele Astaire. As a recording artist, his hits included "Paddlin’ Madeleine Home" (1925), "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" (1928), and the classic "Singin' in the Rain" (1929), which he introduced. 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 songs for under-the-counter sales, including "I'm a Bear in a Lady's Boudoir", "Mr. Insurance Man", and "Give It to Mary with Love". Edwards, more than any other performer, was responsible for the soaring popularity of the ukulele. 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 larger tenor ukulele, which was becoming popular in the 1930s. Edwards continued to record until shortly before his death in 1971. His last record album, Ukulele Ike, was released posthumously on the independent Glendale label. He reprised many of his 1920s hits; his failing health was however evident in the recordings.

Edwards was careless with the money he made in the 1920s, always trying to sustain his expensive habits and lifestyle. He continued working during the Great Depression, but never again enjoyed his former prosperity. Most of his income went to alimony for his three former wives, and paying debts, and he declared bankruptcy four times during the 1930s and early 1940s. Edwards married his first wife Gertrude (Benson) Ryrholm in 1917. Their marriage ended in divorce four years later. He married Irene Wylie in 1923; they divorced in 1931. In 1932, he married his third and final wife, actress Judith Barrett. They divorced in 1936. As well as being a lifelong heavy tobacco smoker, Edwards also was an alcoholic, a drug addict and a gambler for much of his career. • Illustration — Grave of Cliff Edwards at Valhalla Memorial Park

In his final years, Edwards lived in a home for indigent actors and often spent his time loitering at the Walt Disney Studios to be available any time he could get voice work. He was sometimes taken to lunch by animators whom he befriended and told stories of his days in vaudeville. Edwards died on July 17, 1971, at the age of 76 from a cardiac arrest brought on by arteriosclerosis. At the time of his death, Edwards was a penniless charity patient at the Virgil Convalescent Hospital in Hollywood, California. His body was unclaimed and was donated to the University of California, Los Angeles medical school. When Walt Disney Productions, which had been quietly paying many of his medical expenses, discovered this, they offered to purchase his remains and pay for the burial. Instead, it was done by the Actors' Fund of America (which had also aided Edwards) and the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund. Disney paid for his grave marker.

• Marianne (1929) as Soapy • So This Is College (1929) as Windy • The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) as Himself • They Learned About Women (1930) as Singer in Harlem Madness number (uncredited) • Lord Byron of Broadway (1930) as Joe • Crazy House (1930, Short) as Writer • Doughboys (1930) as Nescopeck • Montana Moon (1930) as Froggy • Children of Pleasure (1930) as Cliff - Radio Performer (uncredited) • Way Out West (1930) as Trilby • Good News (1930) as Kearney • Those Three French Girls (1930) as Owly • Remote Control (1930) as Hog Caller (uncredited) • Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) as Bert Scranton • The Prodigal (1931) as Snipe, a Tramp • Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931) as Bell Hop • Stepping Out (1931) as Paul Perkins • Shipmates (1931) as Bilge • Laughing Sinners (1931) as Mike • The Great Lover (1931) as Finny • Sidewalks of New York (1931) as Poggle • The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) as Victor Lebeau • Hell Divers (1931) as "Baldy" • Young Bride (1932) as Pete • Fast Life (1932) as Bumpy • Flying Devils (1933) as 'Screwy' Edwards • Take a Chance (1933) as Louie Webb • George White's Scandals (1934) as Stew Hart • George White's 1935 Scandals (1935) as Dude • Red Salute (1935) as P.J. Rooney • The Man I Marry (1936) as Jerry Ridgeway • They Gave Him a Gun (1937) as Laro • Between Two Women (1937) as Snoopy • Saratoga (1937) as Tip • Bad Guy (1937) as 'Hi-Line' • The Women Men Marry (1937) as Jerry Little • The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937) as 'Buzz' McCreedy • Big City (1937) • The Girl of the Golden West (1938) as Minstrel Joe • The Little Adventuress (1938) as Handy • Maisie (1939) as 'Shorty' Miller • Smuggled Cargo (1939) as Professor • Gone with the Wind (1939) as Reminiscent Soldier • His Girl Friday (1940) as Reporter Endicott • High School (1940) as Jeff Jefferson • Pinocchio (1940) as Jiminy Cricket (voice, uncredited) • Millionaires in Prison (1940) as Happy • Flowing Gold (1940) as 'Hot Rocks' Harris • Cliff Edwards and His Buckaroos (1940) as "Mr. Cliff" (Western short) • Friendly Neighbors (1940) as Notes • She Couldn't Say No (1940) as Banjo Page • The Monster and the Girl (1941) as Leon Beecher 'Tips' Stokes • Knockout (1941) as Pinky (credits) / Sleepy • Power Dive (1941) as Squid Watkins • International Squadron (1941) as Omaha McGrath • Dumbo (1941) as Dandy Crow (voice, uncredited) • West of Tombstone (1942) as Harmony Haines • Sundown Jim (1942) as Stable proprietor • Bandit Ranger (1942) as Ike • Red River Robin Hood (1942) as Ike • Seven Miles from Alcatraz (1942) as Stormy • Pirates of the Prairie (1942) as Ike • American Empire (1942) as Runty • Der Fuehrer's Face (1943) as Nazi lead singer • Fighting Frontier (1943) as Ike • Salute for Three (1943) as Foggy • The Falcon Strikes Back (1943) as Goldie Locke • Sagebrush Law (1943) as Ike • The Avenging Rider (1943) as Ike • Fun and Fancy Free (1947) as Jiminy Cricket (voice) • Bat Masterson (1959) as AJ Mulvaney - Town Undertaker • Platinum High School (1960) as Frank (uncredited) • The Man from Button Willow (1965) as Doc / The Whip (voice, uncredited) • That's Entertainment! (1974) as himself in clip from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 • Once Upon a Studio (2023) as Jiminy Cricket (voice, archive audio)

Cliff Edwards was recorded at birth as Clifton Avon Edwards. He also worked under the name Ukelele Ike. The authorities additionally record the headings Clifton A. Edwards, Ukelele Ike, Clifton Avon Edwards and Ukulele Ike. His recorded language was English. He married Judith Barrett.

Cliff Edwards is recorded as having received Disney Legends and Grammy Hall of Fame. Recorded at birth as Clifton Avon Edwards. Actor/musician, best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket. Recognition and collections. Edwards received Disney Legends and Grammy Hall of Fame.