My Little Old Shack In Minneapolis
The tuneful styling of Yogi Yorgesson on Capital in 1950. The flip-side is “Someone Spiked The Punch At Lena’s Wedding”.
Harry Stewart, better known as, Yogi Yorgesson, was born in Tacoma, Washington in the autumn of 1908. His father was a Norwegian immigrant. In the 1920′s Stewart worked as an announcer, weather reporter, newsman and banjo player on Tacoma radio station KVI.He developed the character of Yogi Yorgesson while appearing on the Al Pearce radio show from 1934 to 1937. Eventually Stewart took his act on the road performing as Yogi in nightclubs. Yogi was originally a Hindu mystic from Stockholm, Sweden, but his crystal ball act was abandoned in favor of homespun humor in the 1940′s. Yogi Yorgesson debuted as a singer in 1948. These proved to be so successful that Capitol Records purchased the rights to his recordings. Stewart worked for capital for the rest of his career. In 1949 Capitol Records released “I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas” and “Yingle Bells”, a single by Yogi Yorgesson with the Johnny Duffy Trio. This record was the most popular of Stewart’s career, selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. From 1948 through 1956 He recorded over forty songs as Yogi Yorgesson. In 1956 Harry Stewart was killed in an automobile accident while returning to Los Angeles from an appearance in Ely, Nevada.
