Tracy, Arthur, 1899-1997

Arthur Tracy was born Abba Trascovutsky in Kamenetz-Podolsk in Moldavia on June 25, 1899.

His family moved to the United States in 1906. Tracy studied at the Curtis Institute, and then graduated to vaudeville and Yiddish theaters. He toured in Blossom Time and The Student Prince. After the 1929 stock market crisis he worked in nightclubs, variety, even sang black face Mammy songs. He eventually considered his voice a "bari-tenor." William S. Paley offered Tracy a fifteen minute CBS radio program. The Street Singer, the name he chose, debuted on radio in 1931. Tracy's repertoire included Viennese operetta, love songs, pop songs, and cowboy songs as well as songs in several languages. In 1935 he went to England and stayed there for four years. From 1936 to1938 he starred in the films Limelight with Anna Neagle, Command Performance with Lilli Palmer, The Street Singer with Margaret Lockwood, and Follow Your Star with Belle Chrystall. He only left England when war was imminent and all Americans were ordered to leave. He continued to sing for benefits; often he performed for free because he did not need the money. A thriving English based fan club welcomed him back on tour in the late 1960s. His singing career resurged in the United States after his recording of the song Pennies from Heaven was used the 1981 film of the same title. Tracy performed several concert dates and toured with the company of the play Social Security. He also had a part in the 1988 film Crossing Delancy. In 1987 he received South Florida's Carbonell Award for supporting actor in Social Security in the roadshow category. In 1996 he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. He also received a star on the Philadelphia walk of fame. Arthur Tracy died of cardiac arrest on October 5, 1997 at the age of 98.

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