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Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:16 am
by marcapra
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
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:03 am
by Henry
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:43 pm
by marcapra
I never knew that Gene Austin played instrumental jazz!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX7DbJcAMh4
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 7:49 pm
by Wolfe
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.
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:53 pm
by wjw
It's possible if he owned some record stores
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:54 am
by howardpgh
Slightly Off Topic to this thread.
Anybody have any idea as to how many 78 rpm records were made?
Re: Gene Austin 85 million records?
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:26 pm
by Wolfe
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.)