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Adrian Ross

Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 11 September 1933), better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the most important lyricist of the British stage during a career that spanned five decades. At a time when few shows had long runs, nineteen of his West End shows ran for over 400 performances.

Starting out in the late 1880s, Ross wrote the lyrics for the earliest British musical theatre hits, including In Town (1892), The Shop Girl (1894) and The Circus Girl (1896). Ross next wrote the lyrics for a string of hit musicals, beginning with A Greek Slave (1898), San Toy (1899), The Messenger Boy (1900) and The Toreador (1901) and continuing without a break through World War I. He also wrote the English lyrics for a series of hit adaptations of European operettas beginning with The Merry Widow in 1907.

During World War I, Ross was one of the founders of the Performing Rights Society. He continued writing until 1930, producing several more successes after the war. He also wrote the popular novel The Hole of the Pit and a number of short stories.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 23, 1859 (Lewisham), Died September 11, 1933 (London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 101-104 of 104 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison 7395 10-in. 6/9/1920 Love, here is my heart Reed Miller Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 9028 10-in. 6/13/1923 Long ago in Alcalá Charles Albert Baker ; Arthur Middleton Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) A164 10-in. between May 1923 and September 1925 The flower Hubert Eisdell ; Dora Labbette Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) A165 10-in. between May 1923 and September 1925 The golden song Hubert Eisdell ; Dora Labbette Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 101-104 of 104 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ross, Adrian," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104143.

Ross, Adrian. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104143.

"Ross, Adrian." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104143

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