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Cliff Edwards

Cliff Edwards, known affectionately by his stage name "Ukulele Ike," was an American singer, actor, and ukulele player who gained enormous popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. Born on June 14, 1895, in Hannibal, Missouri, Edwards moved to St. Louis as a teenager where he began his entertainment career singing in saloons. His unique ukulele-playing style and peculiar vocal range, characterized by his ability to effortlessly switch into falsetto, paved the way for a successful recording career. Edwards is often credited with popularizing the ukulele as a musical instrument in the United States during the Jazz Age.

Edwards' catalog boasts a number of hits, including jazz and pop standards like "If I Had You," "Somebody Loves Me," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," showcasing his versatility as a performer. Perhaps his most enduring recording is "Singin' in the Rain," which became an anthem of the Jazz era and later an iconic number in the film of the same name; although Edwards was not involved in the film, his original recording remains a testament to his influence on American popular music. His career included a transition to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films and provided the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Disney's 1940 animated classic "Pinocchio," singing the now-famous song "When You Wish Upon a Star." Despite facing personal challenges and fading into obscurity in his later years, Cliff Edwards left a significant musical legacy. Collections like "The Ultimate Collection" and "The Vintage Recordings of Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike)" offer a treasure trove of his work for new generations to discover and enjoy. Cliff Edwards passed away in 1971, but his impact on the music and entertainment industry continues to be felt.

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