Will Oakland
Will Oakland (January 15, 1880–May 15, 1956) was an American countertenor famed for his exceptionally high vocal range. He was born Herman Hinrichs in Jersey City, New Jersey, to German-American immigrant parents. Oakland began his musical career after leaving the United States Army in 1905, joining Lew Dockstader's minstrels in Rochester, New York. He began recording for Edison Records in 1908, soon after Richard Jose's retirement. In addition to appearing as a solo performer, Oakland recorded duets with Billy Murray, sometimes singing the female part in love songs. He often sang woeful, sentimental songs that contrasted with Murray's usually upbeat repertoire. From 1912 to 1914 Oakland recorded in the Heidelberg Quintet, joining the members of the American Quartet. He recorded the song "As I sat upon my dear old mother's knee" by Joseph P. Skelly. |
Birth and Death Data: Born January 15, 1880, Died May 15, 1956
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1929
Roles Represented in DAHR: countertenor vocal, lyricist, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 76-100 of 123 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 19270 | 10-in. | 4/7/1911 | It's a long way back to dear old Mother's knee | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19308 | 10-in. | 4/25/1911 | I’ll await my love | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19309 | 10-in. | 4/25/1911 | We're growing old together | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19408 | 10-in. | 6/15/1911 | White wings | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19409 | 10-in. | 6/15/1911 | Just one word of consolation | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19456 | 10-in. | 7/12/1911 | Peek-a-boo | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19457 | 10-in. | 7/12/1911 | Baby mine | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19459 | 10-in. | 7/12/1911 | Take this letter to my mother | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19460 | 10-in. | 7/17/1911 | Only to see her face again | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19817 | 10-in. | 3/16/1912 | When the robins nest again | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19818 | 10-in. | 3/16/1912 | Mother Machree | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19819 | 10-in. | 3/16/1912 | Wait till the clouds roll by | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 19820 | 10-in. | 3/16/1912 | We've been chums for fifty years | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38172 | 10-in. | 8/2/1912 | With all her faults I love her still | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38173 | 10-in. | 8/2/1912 | As I sat upon my dear old mother's knee | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38800 | 10-in. | 4/21/1913 | Emmet's lullaby | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38801 | 10-in. | 4/21/1913 | Garland of old fashioned roses | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38802 | 10-in. | 4/22/1913 | You're just as sweet at sixty as you were at sweet sixteen | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 38803 | 10-in. | 4/22/1913 | Pretty pond lilies | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 39467 | 10-in. | 6/29/1914 | Dear love days | Lyric Trio | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 39468 | 10-in. | 6/29/1914 | Everything reminds me of that old sweetheart of mine | Lyric Trio | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 141881 | 10-in. | 3/29/1926 | Let's grow old together | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal, songwriter | |
| Columbia | 141882 | 10-in. | 3/29/1926 | Gone | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
| Columbia | 142194 | 10-in. | 5/12/1926 | Wait till my ship comes in | Irving Kaufman | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | songwriter | |
| OKeh | 622 | 10-in. | ca. Mar. 1919 | When Ireland comes into her own | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oakland, Will," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
Oakland, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
"Oakland, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Oakland, Will, 1883-1956 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077352
Wikidata: Will Oakland - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8002992
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/36528166
ISNI: 0000 0000 4087 9436 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000040879436
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.