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Benjamin Robertson Harney

Benjamin Robertson "Ben" Harney (March 6, 1872 – March 2, 1938) was an American songwriter, entertainer, and pioneer of ragtime music. His 1895 composition "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" is regarded as among the earliest, if not the earliest, ragtime composition. Though now probably more associated with Scott Joplin, in 1924 the New York Times wrote that Ben Harney "probably did more to popularize ragtime than any other person." Time Magazine termed him "Ragtime's Father" in 1938.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1st, 1871, Died January 1st, 1938

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1898 - 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 523 7-in. 10/8/1898 Mister Johnson turn me loose John Terrell Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0145 7-in. Before June 1899 You’ve been a good old wagon Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]799 7-in. 5/14/1901 Mr. Johnson turn me loose Silas Leachman Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]799 10-in. 5/14/1901 Mr. Johnson turn me loose Silas Leachman Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2061 7-in. 3/6/1903 You've been a good old wagon, but you've done broke down Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2061 10-in. 3/6/1903 You've been a good old wagon, but you've done broke down Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3355 10-in. 5/14/1901 Mr. Johnson turn me loose Silas F. Leachman Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor B-70 10-in. 6/10/1903 Cakewalk in the sky Kendle's First Regiment Band Band composer  
Victor A-70 7-in. 6/10/1903 Cakewalk in the sky Kendle's First Regiment Band Band composer  
Victor B-2461 10-in. 4/10/1905 Cakewalk in the sky Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-2461 12-in. 4/10/1905 Cakewalk in the sky Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor E-4243 8-in. 2/6/1907 The cakewalk in the sky Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-6882 10-in. 3/16/1909 The cakewalk in the sky Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-6882 12-in. 3/16/1909 The cakewalk in the sky Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia W147650 10-in. 12/15/1928 Mister Johnson, turn me loose Magee String Band String band composer  
OKeh W81678 10-in. 10/5/1927 Mister Johnson, turn me aloose South Georgia Highballers Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo and talk composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Harney, Benjamin Robertson," accessed July 25, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100446.

Harney, Benjamin Robertson. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved July 25, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100446.

"Harney, Benjamin Robertson." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 25 July 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100446

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ben Harney

Discogs: Harney, Benjamin Robertson

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Harney, Benjamin Robertson, 1872-1938 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2001121461

Wikidata: Ben Harney - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4885795

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/26417968/

MusicBrainz: Harney, Benjamin Robertson, 1872-1938 - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/d9c85c75-2937-4514-8cd2-22bd6bfafdd6

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