Alfred Bryan

Alfred Bryan (September 15, 1871 – April 1, 1958) was a Canadian lyricist.

Bryan was born in Brantford, Ontario. He worked as an arranger in New York and wrote lyrics for many Broadway shows in the late 1910s and early 1920s. In the 1920s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals.

Bryan worked with several composers during his career. Among his collaborators were Henriette Blanke-Belcher, Fred Fischer, Al Sherman, Larry Stock and Joe McCarthy. Perhaps his most successful song was "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" (1915), with music by Al Piantadosi. The song sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and became one of 1915's top-selling songs in the United States. Although Bryan himself was not a committed pacifist, he described the American public's anti-war sentiments in his lyrics.

He died in Gladstone, New Jersey, aged 86.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 15, 1871 (Brantford), Died April 1, 1958 (Gladstone)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 513 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 38980 10-in. 8/1/1913 Peg o' my heart Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39095 10-in. 11/13/1913 Flow along, river Tennessee Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39162 10-in. 12/23/1913 I'm on my way to Mandalay Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39294 10-in. 3/21/1914 Smother me with kisses Ada Jones ; Billy Watkins Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39328 10-in. 4/16/1914 If I were the ocean and you were the shore Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39329 10-in. 4/16/1914 Who paid the rent for Mrs. Rip Van Winkle? Billy Watkins Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39336 10-in. 4/21/1914 On the Island of Pines Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39388 10-in. 5/19/1914 Over the Alpine Mountains Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39497 10-in. 7/17/1914 The high cost of loving Elida Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39589 10-in. 10/19/1914 When it's night time down in Burgundy Columbia Stellar Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39707 10-in. 12/19/1914 Over the hills to Mary James F. Harrison ; James Reed Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 39736 10-in. 1/6/1915 I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 45852 10-in. 7/13/1915 Sweetest girl in Monterey James F. Harrison ; James Reed Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46048 10-in. 9/23/1915 Things are getting better every day M. J. O'Connell Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 46284 10-in. 12/16/1915 She was made for love Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46345 10-in. 1/15/1916 She's good enough to be your baby's mother Anna Chandler Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46793 10-in. 5/19/1916 Come back to Arizona Reed Miller ; Frederick J. Wheeler Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 46907 10-in. 7/12/1916 On Lake Champlain Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47256 10-in. 12/23/1916 Oh! I want to be good, but my eyes won't let me Anna Wheaton Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47362 10-in. 2/10/1917 She's Dixie all the time George O'Connor Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 47459 10-in. 4/5/1917 It's time for every boy to be a soldier Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77044 10-in. 5/10/1917 Joan of Arc Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77333 10-in. 9/13/1917 I'm crazy over every girl in France Avon Comedy Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77407 10-in. 10/3/1917 Over the top Columbia Quartette Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 77471 10-in. 10/31/1917 Don't try to steal the sweetheart of a soldier Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 226-250 of 513 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bryan, Alfred," accessed April 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

Bryan, Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

"Bryan, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828

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