The Haydn Quartet
The Haydn Quartet was one of the most popular recording close harmony quartets in the early twentieth century.
Originally Samuel Holland Rous (who recorded as S. H. Dudley, but is not to be confused with the black vaudeville performer Sherman H. Dudley[1]) formed a vocal quartet in 1896 to record for Edison’s studios. After replacing the two tenor singers the quartet sang as the "Edison Quartet." The name Haydn Quartet was used to allow them to record elsewhere. The name Haydn was a homage to the classical composer; the spelling was later revised to Hayden, which reflects the way it was pronounced.
Recording both a cappella and with some of the day's biggest solo stars, including Billy Murray and Corinne Morgan, they were one of the most successful acts of the century's first decade. They produced several American best-sellers, including perennial favorites "Bring Back My Bonnie To Me" (1901), "Sunbonnet Sue" (1908), and "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" (1910).
Before 1910, they also performed on vaudeville and minstrel show records,[2] one of which, "The Camp Meeting Jubilee", released in 1904 as Victor Records no. 4003, includes a very early recorded use of the phrase "rocking and rolling", albeit used with a spiritual rather than secular connotation.[3]
[edit] Members
From 1898 through their popular period the members were:
- John Bieling — Tenor
- Harry Macdonough — Tenor
- S. H. Dudley — Baritone
- William F. Hooley — Bass
[edit] External links
- The Edison Quartette (1902?) "Annie Laurie" No. 2201 Edison Gold Moulded Record
- Meloware's Antique Phonograph Record Archive
- Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Discography of the Haydn Quartet on Victor Records from the Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings (EDVR)
[edit] References
- ^ Allan Sutton, Harry Macdonough: Victor's Singing Executive
- ^ Meloware's Antique Phonograph Record Archive
- ^ Victor Records number 4003. A video of this record being played is here.
- Averill, Gage (2003). Four Parts, No Waiting: A Social History of American Barbershop Harmony. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-511672-0.
