Jack Berch

Jack Berch (August 26, 1907 or 1911[1] – December 10, 1992) was an American baritone singer best known for his radio variety/talk programs[2] (From 1935–1954).[3]

Jack Berch
Jack Berch and family in 1949
BornAugust 26, 1907
or August 26, 1911
Sigel, Illinois
DiedDecember 10, 1992
Jamaica, New York
Alma materSt. Viator College
OccupationSinger
Known forRadio programs
Home townSigel, Illinois
Spouse(s)Margo Orwig
ChildrenCarol
Shirley
Jon
Mollie

Early years

Berch was born in Sigel, Illinois, where his father ran a general store.[4] Following his father's death, Berch began working after school as a stock boy in a dry goods store when he was "about 11 years old."[5] His primary and secondary education came in Effingham, Illinois.[6]

Berch graduated from St. Viator College.[6] During his college years, he was a dishwasher and played drums for a dance band.[4] He later worked as a door-to-door coffee salesman who sang as he approached the door of a house. When one potential customer in Youngstown, Ohio, turned out to be the wife of the manager of radio station WKBN, that led to an audition.[2]

Radio

Berch's first job on radio was at WKBN. He had dual roles as a singer and an announcer, "introducing himself in one voice and singing in another. Then he would thank himself for the performance."[7]

He also worked at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio; WTAM in Cleveland, Ohio;[1] and WOAI in San Antonio, Texas.[8]

Berch was the star of The Jack Berch Show, a variety/talk program that was broadcast on ABC, CBS, Mutual, and NBC at various times 1935–1954.[3] His programs at times went by other names, including The Kitchen Pirate (1935–36) and The Sweetheart Serenader (1939–1941).[2] A comment published in the trade publication Radio Daily said, "The singing of Berch is particularly well designed to give the day a sunny sendoff."[9]

At times, he also wrote scripts and worked as an announcer and producer on other people's programs.[1]

Recording

In 1950, Berch signed a contract with RCA Victor to make recordings in both children's and popular music genres.[10]

Personal life

Berch was married to the former Margo Orwig.[11] They had a son, Jon, and daughters Carol, Shirley,[12] and Mollie.[13]

Death

Berch died December 10, 1992, in Jamaica, New York.[2]

Partial discography
  • Shenanigans/The Greatest Mistake of My Life - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 559)[14]
  • The Letter I Forgot to Mail/Kemo Kimo - 1949 with The Charlie Magnante Trio (Regent 144)[15]
  • Bibbi-Di Bobba-Di Boo/Cinderella - 1950 with The Mullen Sisters and The Charlie Magnante Trio (London 20012)[16]
  • Sunday School Songs (Parts I & II) - 1950 (Victor 470222)[17]
  • The Teddy Bear's Picnic/Me and My Teddy Bear - 1950 with the Henri René Orchestra (Victor 47-0225)[18]
  • The Little Lost Sheep - 1952 (Bibletone KL 221)[19]
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References
  1. Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940-1941. Variety, Inc. P. 877.
  2. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 30.
  3. Dunning, John (1998). "The Jack Berch Show". On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
  4. Alden, Ken (July 1937). "Facing the Music". Radio Mirror. 8 (3): 48–49. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  5. Berch, Jack (April 1950). "This I Believe". Radio and Television Mirror. 33 (5): 26–27, 104–105. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  6. "(untitled brief)". Pennsylvania, Altoona. Altoona Tribune. March 21, 1950. p. 13. Retrieved November 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Jack Berch, Young Veteran Of Air, All-Around Artist". Texas, Paris. The Paris News. May 21, 1939. p. 15. Retrieved December 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Births". Billboard. April 17, 1948. p. 44. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  9. "Program Reviews and Comments" (PDF). Radio Daily. July 20, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  10. "Music--as Written". Billboard. May 27, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  11. "(untitled brief)". Radio and Television Mirror. 35 (3): 74. February 1951. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  12. Berch, Jack (January 1949). "World Full of Neighbors". Radio and Television Mirror. 31 (2): 34–35, 83–84. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  13. "(photo caption)". Radio and Television Mirror. 29 (5): 39. April 1948. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  14. "Record Reviews". Billboard. December 10, 1949. p. 34. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  15. "Record Reviews". Billboard. March 19, 1949. p. 40. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  16. "(London Records advertisement)". Billboard. April 15, 1950. p. 31. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  17. "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 7, 1950. p. 104. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  18. "Record Reviews". Billboard. October 28, 1950. p. 128. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  19. "Albums and LP Reviews". Billboard. November 22, 1952. p. 88. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
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