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Sidney Jones

James Sidney Jones (17 June 1861 – 29 January 1946), usually credited as Sidney Jones, was an English conductor and composer, who was most famous for composing the musical scores for a series of musical comedy hits in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Jones's most famous musical was The Geisha, but several of his pieces were among the most popular shows of the era, enjoying long runs, international tours and revivals.

In 1892, after nine years of conducting touring companies of British operettas for Alfred Cellier and George Edwardes, Edwardes engaged Jones to conduct several operettas and musical comedies in London. Jones had begun composing incidental music and supplemental songs for some of the shows he conducted and even wrote scores of his own in 1889 and 1892. In 1893, one of his songs, "Linger Longer, Loo", composed for the 1892 burlesque Don Juan at the Gaiety Theatre, became popular throughout the English-speaking world.

Jones's first hit show was A Gaiety Girl (1893), one of the first major successes of the Edwardian musical comedy genre. A series of Jones hits followed: An Artist's Model (1894), The Geisha (1896), A Greek Slave (1898) and San Toy (1899). After this, Jones had less frequent and intense successes, but his more popular shows included My Lady Molly (1902), See See (1906), King of Cadonia (1908), The Girl from Utah (1913) and The Happy Day (1916).

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1861 (Islington), Died January 19, 1946 (Kew)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1897 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

Notes: Name also appears as James Sidney Jones.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 525 7-in. 1/26/1897 Chin chin Chinaman Artists vary Male vocal solo composer  
Berliner 0670 7-in. 10/28/1899 The interfering parrot S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Berliner 01158 7-in. 4/3/1900 Jack’s the boy S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]477 7-in. 10/29/1900 Pletty little Chinee Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]487 7-in. 11/1/1900 Medley Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]487 10-in. 10/7/1902 Medley Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]709 7-in. 3/5/1901 I mean to introduce it into China S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]710 7-in. 3/5/1901 Six little wives S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]710 10-in. 3/5/1903 Six little wives S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1184 7-in. 1/2/1902 Selections from San Toy Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1184 10-in. 1/2/1902 Selections from San Toy Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3171 10-in. 3/5/1901 I mean to introduce it into China S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3172 10-in. 3/5/1901 Six little wives S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3212 10-in. 3/20/1901 San Toy selection Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3214 10-in. 3/20/1901 San Toy selection Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3233 10-in. 4/3/1901 Selection from San Toy Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor A-1244 7-in. 4/21/1904 A Greek slave Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-1244 10-in. 4/21/1904 The Greek slave waltz Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor C-4498 12-in. 5/16/1907 Selections from the Chinese opera See See Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-8183 10-in. 8/30/1909 Romanza de Mimosa Emilia Vergeri Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-8651 12-in. 2/21/1910 Gems from San Toy Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-12151 12-in. 7/2/1912 Gems from The geisha Victor Light Opera Company Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-14320 10-in. 1/14/1914 Fantasia Vessella's Italian Band Band composer  
Victor CVE-58041 12-in. 11/18/1929 The geisha : Selection Creatore's Band ; Antonio de Santis Band, with cornet solo composer  
Victor CVE-58053 12-in. 11/20/1929 The geisha : Selection Creatore's Band Band (take 3); with soprano vocal solo (takes 1 and 2) composer  
Victor H-600 10-in. 2/16/1912 Lanceros, fig. I Banda del Pabellón de las Rosas Band composer  
Victor H-601 10-in. 2/16/1912 Lanceros, fig. 2 Banda del Pabellón de las Rosas Band composer  
Victor H-602 10-in. 2/16/1912 Lanceros, fig. 3 Banda del Pabellón de las Rosas Band composer  
Victor H-603 10-in. 2/16/1912 Lanceros, fig. 4 Banda del Pabellón de las Rosas Band composer  
Victor H-604 10-in. 2/16/1912 Lanceros fig. 5 Banda del Pabellón de las Rosas Band composer  
Victor R-742 10-in. 3/30/1910 La nostra vita e sempre vita di piacer Lia Bianca Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 291 7-in. ca. 1901-Oct. 1905 San toy : Selection Artists vary Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 291 10-in. ca. 1901 San Toy : Selection Artists vary Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 675 7-in. ca. 1902-Oct. 1905 Six little wives Columbia Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 675 10-in. ca. 1902 Six little wives Columbia Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 686 7-in. ca. 1902 Jack's the boy J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 686 10-in. ca. 1902-1908 Jack's the boy J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 788 7-in. ca. 1902-Oct. 1905 Valse Columbia Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 788 10-in. ca. 1902 Valse Columbia Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 868 7-in. ca. 1902-Oct. 1905 San Toy : Waltz Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 868 10-in. ca. 1902 San Toy : Waltz Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1470 10-in. ca. 1903-1908 Goldfischlied Mia Werber Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1471 10-in. ca. 1903 Walzerlied Mia Werber Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1474 10-in. ca. 1903-1908 Kuss duet Sigmund Kunstadt ; Mia Werber Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with piano composer  
Columbia 1478 10-in. ca. 1903 Jewel von asien Mia Werber Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 79144 10-in. 4/28/1920 A geisha's life Lucy Gates Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 36709 12-in. 4/24/1913 The geisha : Selections Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 10692 10-in. approximately 1903 to 1908 O chic! O chic! Mario Fortunato ; Flora Mirabilis Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra composer  
Columbia 10708 10-in. approximately 1903 to 1908 La geisha : Duetto dei baci Mario Fortunato ; Flora Mirabilis Vocal duet (soprano and baritone), with orchestra composer  
Columbia 10714 10-in. approximately 1903 to 1908 Tcion kina Coristi della Scala ; Flora Mirabilis Soprano vocal solo, with mixed vocal chorus and orchestra composer  
Columbia 13614 10-in. approximately 1909 Geisha : Canción del Abanico María Conesa Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 20626 10-in. approximately 1904 La geisha : Tcion kina G. Arpicelli Soprano vocal solo and vocal chorus composer  
Columbia 55808 10-in. 1911 Canción de mimosa Emilia Vergeri Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick XE28513 12-in. 10/4/1928 Geisha Eugene Fuerst ; International Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Brunswick XE28615 12-in. 11/7/1928 Geisha Eugene Fuerst ; International Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Brunswick E29287 10-in. Feb. 1929 Mean to me Chester Gaylord Male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick DB48 10-in. 10/10/1928 San Toy : Selection E. Cruft ; Duophone Light Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Brunswick DB48 10-in. 9/21/1928 San Toy : Selection E. Cruft ; Duophone Light Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Brunswick DB49 10-in. 9/21/1928 San Toy : Selection E. Cruft ; Duophone Light Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Edison 3052 10-in. May 1914 Kiss duet Harvey Hindermyer ; Elizabeth Spencer Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Edison 3259 10-in. Aug. 1914 or later Waltz hesitation National Promenade Band Band composer  
Edison 7284 10-in. 4/12/1920 The amorous goldfish Helen Newitt Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 7297 10-in. 4/19/1920 Jack's the boy Joseph A. Phillips Baritone vocal solo and male vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Edison 7339 10-in. 5/3/1920 A geisha's life Helen Newitt Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 7377 10-in. 6/2/1920 The dear little Jappy Jap Jappy Joseph A. Phillips Baritone vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 431L 10-in. 1902 Skarbie bezcenny Wiktorya Kawecka ; Wincenty Proniewicz Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Gramophone CNR774 10-in. 10/10/1929 The geisha Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone CNR775 10-in. 10/10/1929 The geisha Marek Weber Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Gramophone 1494c 12-in. 1908 Intermezzo Teatro alla Scala Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Gramophone 10660b 10-in. June 1907 Strofe di Hun-Ci Ernesto Badini Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 10668b 10-in. June 1907 O mia Mimosa Gaetano Pini-Corsi Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 11008b 10-in. 1907 La nostra vita e vita di piacere Olga Rosalin Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 11229b 10-in. 1908 Ogni uom nei lacci d'amor Tina d'Arco ; Gaetano Tani Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 11234b 10-in. 1908 Qui sola gioia Coro Compagnia Marchetti Chorus, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 11237b 10-in. 1908 Tcion Kina Coro Compagnia Marchetti ; Mercedes Díaz Female vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra composer  
Gramophone 13379b 10-in. May 1909 The geisha Greek comic vocalist (unidentified; Gramophone Co.) Male vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 13548b 10-in. June 1909 Geisha : Air Stella Kokini Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 13549b 10-in. June 1909 Geisha Greek comic vocalist (unidentified; Gramophone Co.) Male vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 14387b 10-in. Feb. 1910 Gejska : Kuplety Marja Jarkowska Female vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 19011½u 10-in. 1/23/1915 Couplets de Lien-Chan Sánchez del Pino Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jones, Sidney," accessed May 3, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104048.

Jones, Sidney. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104048.

"Jones, Sidney." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104048

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