Gene Austin 85 million records?

marcapra · Post by **marcapra** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:16 am

I was watching a Red Skelton show from 1955 where he introduces 20s singing star Gene Austin as having sold over 85 million records!!! Wow, I never knew he sold that many! I know his My Blue Heaven was the last record to sell over a million until Glenn Miller's Chatanooga Choo Choo in 1941. Here is a rare excerpt of Gene Austin in a 1934 movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUSzLOiksDU

Henry · Post by **Henry** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:03 am

This is the movie; more info here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025740/?re ... mg_act_100

marcapra · Post by **marcapra** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:43 pm

I never knew that Gene Austin played instrumental jazz!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX7DbJcAMh4

Wolfe · Post by **Wolfe** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:49 pm

84,999,999 records too many. But I suppose it's possible. He had a lot of hits besides Ramona in those halcyon days of the mid-late 1920's.

Post by **wjw** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:53 pm

It's possible if he owned some record stores

howardpgh · Post by **howardpgh** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:54 am

Slightly Off Topic to this thread.
Anybody have any idea as to how many 78 rpm records were made?

Wolfe · Post by **Wolfe** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:26 pm

Ever?

No way to determine that. Worldwide, over 60-odd years it would definitely be in the numbers of billions.

RCA Victor commemorated their billionth 78 rpm record in 1946. It only until about 1961 to the second billion however (not only 78 at that point.)

Gene Austin 85 million records?

Gene Austin 85 million records?

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