The Resume

(May 25, 1877-August 17, 1954)
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vaudeville performer
Most popular recording star of the 1900s and 1910s
Recorded more than 5,000 songs including 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' 'You're a Grand Old Flag,' 'K-K-K-Katy,' 'Over There,' 'On Moonlight Bay,' 'Give My Regards to Broadway,' 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' 'In My Merry Oldsmobile,' 'Shine On Harvest Moon,' 'Play a Simple Melody' and 'In the Good Old Summertime'
Provided the voice of Bimbo in Max Fleischer cartoons
Nicknamed 'the Denver Nightingale'

Why he might be annoying:

He performed in black face in minstrel shows.
His earliest wax cylinder recordings have been lost.
He sometimes skipped recording sessions to attend baseball games.
His stentorian singing style went out of fashion in the 1920s when improved microphones allowed singers to croon.
He was married three times, divorced twice.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was the first singer to make a living primarily from records instead of live performances.
He had strong lungs and excellent enunciation, two key assets in the pre-microphone era of recordings.
One vintage vinyl collector noted, 'Billy Murray's records are the only ones so clear that you could catch every word on first hearing.'
The New York Highlanders let him play right field during some exhibition games.
He provided the vocals for several popular 'follow the bouncing ball' sing-along cartoon shorts.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Appeared in Black Face
• Belters
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 48]
• Celebrity New York Yankee Fans
• I Am Vaudeville [M-Z]
• I Died in 1954 (Ranked: 77)
• I Sing Novelty/Parody Songs
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 2008)
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 2006)
• People who Have Similar Names on Am I Annoying (Ranked: 629)
• Profiles 34501-34750 (Ranked: 34526)
• Songs of the Century [2001] (Ranked: 8)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 28.57% Annoying