|
 Though
most closely associated with Bert Williams, "Play
that Barber-shop Chord" was recorded by a number
of popular artists, including Billy Murray and the American
Quartet and Eddie Morton. Collins frequently recorded
Williams' material, his versions of "Nobody,"
"The Moon Shines on the Moonshine," "I'm
a Jonah Man," and "It's Nobody's Business
But My Own" dotting the landscape of his 20-plus-year
career.
A considerable hit for publisher J. Fred Helf, "Barber-shop
Chord" was also his firm's death knell. Songwriter
Ballard Macdonald had begun work on the song and had
written dummy lyrics before leaving the song behind.
The piece was finished by Lewis Muir and William Tracey,
and Macdonald was incensed that Helf left his name off
the sheet music. He sued Helf successfully, and the
award of $37,500 forced Helf into bankruptcy.
Stay tuned for our next volume of The Complete Bert
Williams—featuring his version of "Barber-shop
Chord"—coming this spring!
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