Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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(Brunswick 4035)
Recorded 8/17/1928 New York, New York.
Harry Richman (vocalist : baritone vocal)
Ted Fiorito (composer)
Sam M. Lewis (lyricist)
Joe Young (lyricist)

"King For a Day" is a popular song written by Sam Lewis and Joe Young, with music by Ted Fiorito, and first recorded in 1928 by George Olsen and His Music. It was part of a trend of popular songs associated with Broadway shows and early sound films in the late 1920s. The song's lyrics hint at the fleeting nature of success and fortune, written just before the Great Depression.
The song's lyrics, "Don't forget that castles crumble, fortunes tumble," were written just before the Great Depression, highlighting the transient nature of wealth and status.

Harry Richman (born Henry Reichman Jr.; August 10, 1895 – November 3, 1972) was an American singer, actor, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and nightclub performer, at his most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In his peak years, he was one of the highest‐paid performers in show business.