Performers

Following are the most prominent of the wide range of artists who have performed Yip’s lyrics in shows and films and on recordings.

Eddie (“Rochester”) Anderson – Cabin in the Sky

Louis Armstrong – “Ain’t It de Truth” (cut from Cabin in the Sky); unfinished animated version of Finian’s Rainbow

Fred Astaire – 1968 film version of Finian’s Rainbow

Kate Baldwin – Finian’s Rainbow (2009-10 Broadway revival)

Tony Bennett – “Last Night When We Were Young,” “Old Devil Moon” and many other recordings

Joan Blondell – The Golddiggers of 1937

Ray Bolger – Life Begins at 8:40 and The Wizard of Oz

James Cagney – “In That Good Old Hoover Time” (CBS Radio Election Eve broadcast, Nov. 6, 1944)

Eva Cassidy – “Over the Rainbow” (Songbird CD)

Cab Calloway and His Band – The Singing Kid

Petula Clark – 1968 film version of Finian’s Rainbow

Rosemary Clooney – “Over the Rainbow,” “What Is There to Say,” others

Imogene Coca – The Garrick GaietiesShoot the Works!New Faces of 1934

Barbara Cook – Flahooley; TV version of Bloomer Girl

Irwin Corey – Flahooley

Bing Crosby – “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” and other recordings

Doris Day — April in Paris (1952 film) and recordings

Marlene Dietrich – Kismet

Jimmy Durante – 40’s political campaign songs

Deanna Durbin – Can’t Help Singing

Ruth Etting – “I’m Yours” and “What Wouldn’t I Do for That Man”

Michael Feinstein – numerous recordings

Ella Fitzgerald — unfinished animated version of Finian’s Rainbow; recordings

Jane Froman – Ziegfeld Follies of 1934

Judy Garland – The Wizard of OzBabes on Broadway; other films and recordings

Mitzi Gaynor — Jollyanna

Robert Goulet – Gay Purr-ee

Kathryn Grayson – Rio Rita and Thousands Cheer

Jack Haley – The 20th Amendment and The Wizard of Oz

Evelyn Hoey – Leave It to LesterThe 20th AmendmentThe Vanderbilt RevueWalk a Little Faster

Celeste Holm – Bloomer Girl

Sterling Holloway – The Garrick Gaieties

Bob Hope – Ballyhoo of ‘32

Lena Horne – Cabin in the SkyJamaica; numerous recordings

Cheyenne Jackson- Finian’s Rainbow (2009-10 Broadway revival)

Al Jolson – The Singing KidHold on to Your Hats; recordings

Ruby Keeler – Hold on to Your Hats national tour

Bert Lahr – Life Begins at 8:40The Wizard of Oz; shows and recordings

Nathan Lane – “If I Only Had the Nerve,” “If I Were King of the Forest” (The Wizard of Oz in concert)

Leadbelly – “The Same Boat, Brother”

Jack Lemmon – Anyone for Tennyson? (PBS)

Beatrice Lillie – Walk a Little Faster

Ella Logan – Finian’s Rainbow

Jeanette MacDonald – Cairo

Groucho Marx – “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady”

Paul McCartney – “It’s Only a Paper Moon” (Kisses on the Bottom CD, 2012)

Joan McCracken – Bloomer Girl

Ethel Merman – “Satan’s Li’l Lamb”; “You’re a Builder-Upper”; The Devil SeaSong Shopping

George Michael – “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” (Songs of the Last Century CD)

Helen Morgan – ApplauseGlorifying the American Girl

Matthew Morrison – “Over the Rainbow” duet with Gwyneth Paltrow (Matthew Morrison CD, 2011)

Lee Morse – A Million Me’sSong Service

Clarence Muse – “Free and Equal Blues” (duet with Earl Robinson, CBS Radio, Nov. 6, 1944)

Clarence Nordstrom – They Call It Sin

Jim Norton – Finian’s Rainbow (2009-10 Broadway revival)

Virginia O’Brien – Ship AhoyDuBarry Was a Lady

Dick Powell – Stage StruckGolddiggers of 1937; other films/recordings

Mandy Patinkin – “Over the Rainbow,” “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

Eleanor Powell – Ship Ahoy

Josephine Premice — Jamaica

Harve Presnell – The Grate Mans Wiskurs

Vincent Price – Darling of the Day

Martha Raye – Hold on to Your Hats

Cyril Ritchard – The Happiest Girl in the World

Ginger Rogers – Office BluesThe Sap from Syracuse

Mickey Rooney – Babes in ArmsBabes on Broadway

Patricia Routledge – Darling of the Day

Charles Ruggles – Queen High

Janice Rule – The Happiest Girl in the World

Isabel Sanford – The Grate Mans Wiskurs

Frank Sinatra – Ship Ahoy; unfinished animated version of Finian’s Rainbow; recordings

Red Skelton – Ship Ahoy; Panama Hattie

Ann Southern – Panama Hattie

Lawrence Tibbett – “Last Night When We Were Young”

Mel Torme – “Last Night When We Were Young,” “Old Devil Moon,” others

Rudy Vallee – “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

Sarah Vaughn – “Over the Rainbow,” “Then I’ll Be Tired of You,” many others

Vivian Vance – Hooray for What!

Tom Waits – “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

Ethel Waters – Cabin in the SkyCairo

David Wayne – Finian’s Rainbow

Josh White – “Free and Equal Blues”

Lee Wiley – “Moanin’ in the Mornin’,” “Down with Love,” “Fun to Be Fooled”

Dooley Wilson – Cabin in the Sky; Bloomer Girl

Ed Wynn – Hooray for What!

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