1928: Otto Gray’s Oklahoma Cowboy Band recorded “Adam & Eve” in Richmond. This was a rerecord. It appeared on Gennett 6376 (Owen Gray), Champion 15482 (McGinty’s Oklahoma Cowboy Band), Challenge 396 (Art Coffee), Silvertone 8157, and Supertone 9242 (Otis Stewart). The band featured Owen Gray (v and g), poss. Lee ‘Zeke’ Allen (v), ‘Chief’ Sanders (f), and Wade ‘Hy’ Allen (bjo). Here is a video of them performing in 1929.
1932: Tommie Bradley recorded “Window Pane Blues” in Richmond. It appeared on Champion S – 16696 and Varsity 6054. The recording features Tommie Bradley (v and g), James Cole (f), Eddie Dimmit (mdn), and an unknown washboard player.
1882: Happy 136th Birthday, Henry Burr! (1/15/1882) The vocalist recorded several sides for Gennett with the Sterling Trio. This photo is from their entry in the 1923 Gennett Catalog.
Henry Burr / Sterling Trio 1923 Catalog Entry
1925: The Tweedy Brothers recorded “Cripple Creek” in Richmond. It appeared on Gennett 5635, Champion 15148 (Jennings Brothers), Silvertone 4008, and Buddy 8016. Champion reported sales of 1,532 copies in 1926 and 1927. The Tweedy Brothers were Charles W. Tweedy (piano) & Harry Tweedy (fiddle).
1923: Clarence Gennett recorded a series of nursery rhymes under the pseudonym “Charles Gordon.” These recitations appeared on Gennett 5029 and 4932.
1927: Harry Pollock’s Maurice Club Diamonds recorded “There Ain’t No Maybe in My Baby’s Eyes” in NYC. The recording appeared on Gennett 6026, Champion 15213, Silverstone 5029, Challenge 236, Challenge 239, Challenge 355, Vocalion B-217, and Vocalion XA-18003. It featured Harold Yates (vox) and Harry Pollock (violin). The Champion side sold 1,124 copies in 1927 and 1928.
1923: Norman Provol’s Canaries with Norman Brown (piano) and Lorraine Evon (violin) recorded “Spring Song & Glow Worm” in Richmond. The track contained an “actual canary solo” and appeared on Gennett 5107 and West’s 20156. The West’s label read “N. Provol Offers The Golden Bird ‘Souvenir.” Actual Canary Solo” West’s was the “Largest Manufacturers of the Most Complete Line of Bird Products In The World.” This pressing on the West’s label is being played on my Starr Portophone.
1929: Willie Baker recorded “Mama Don’t Rush Me Blues” in Richmond. The track appeared on Gennett 6766, Champion 15694 (Steamboat Bill and His Guitar), Supertone 9366 (Willie Jones). The Champion royalty ledger noted sales of approx. 1,100 copies in 1929 to Harry Charles.
