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Florida Atlantic University, Judaica Sound Archives
http://faujsa.fau.edu./bell/home.php
Born: March 21, 1906 (New York City)
Died: July 6,1999 (New York City)
Note: Benny Bell, a pioneer in the field of Jewish comedy
recordings was born “Benjamin Zamberg.”
http://faujsa.fau.edu./bell/home.php
Born: March 21, 1906 (New York City)
Died: July 6,1999 (New York City)
Note: Benny Bell, a pioneer in the field of Jewish comedy
recordings was born “Benjamin Zamberg.”
Like many others who were born and raised on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Benny Bell’s first language was Yiddish. As a teenager he found employment writing lyrics for music and also music for lyrics. After this initial introduction to “show business” Benny Bell took to the Vaudeville stage as “Benny Bimbo .” Making people laugh was what he was all about.
One of the first to create comedy albums in Yiddish, he started his own record company in the 1930’s. He produced a series of party records using different names, such as Paul Wynn, which were considered risqué at the time, but are really quite mild by today’s standards. His popular “Pincus the Peddler” character was created in 1946 and featured American songs with a Yiddish flavor, a combination which proved to be a big hit in immigrant neighborhoods. By the 1940s he had created more than 30 phonograph recordings. A true impresario, he was involved in every aspect of production, artistic creation, and performance. He did it all!
As the first half of the 20th century passed, so did the interest in Yiddish comedy. The 1950s were difficult and Benny Bell was forced to accept menial jobs like busboy and bank messenger. But when a syndicated LA disc jockey began using Benny Bell’s song “Shaving Cream” as his theme song in the 1970’s, it renewed interest in his earlier recordings from the 1930s. “Shaving Cream” was eventually reissued, selling almost a million copies. His renewed popularity breathed new life into his live performances which he continued to do into his 90’s.
Chuck Samberg, Benny Bell’s son, remembers growing up in a home filled with humor. “My father was like a
big kid, a Pied Piper.”
One of the first to create comedy albums in Yiddish, he started his own record company in the 1930’s. He produced a series of party records using different names, such as Paul Wynn, which were considered risqué at the time, but are really quite mild by today’s standards. His popular “Pincus the Peddler” character was created in 1946 and featured American songs with a Yiddish flavor, a combination which proved to be a big hit in immigrant neighborhoods. By the 1940s he had created more than 30 phonograph recordings. A true impresario, he was involved in every aspect of production, artistic creation, and performance. He did it all!
As the first half of the 20th century passed, so did the interest in Yiddish comedy. The 1950s were difficult and Benny Bell was forced to accept menial jobs like busboy and bank messenger. But when a syndicated LA disc jockey began using Benny Bell’s song “Shaving Cream” as his theme song in the 1970’s, it renewed interest in his earlier recordings from the 1930s. “Shaving Cream” was eventually reissued, selling almost a million copies. His renewed popularity breathed new life into his live performances which he continued to do into his 90’s.
Chuck Samberg, Benny Bell’s son, remembers growing up in a home filled with humor. “My father was like a
big kid, a Pied Piper.”
Rights to Benny Bell's music is courtesy of his son Charles "Chuck" Samberg.
You can communicate with the representative for this artist.
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Site Design and Programming by JSA Webmaster
Florida Atlantic University Libraries
777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton, FL 33431
© Copyright 2007. Florida Atlantic University