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George Hamilton Green

George Hamilton Green Jr. (May 23, 1893 – September 11, 1970) was a xylophonist, composer, and cartoonist born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was born into a musical family, both his grandfather and his father being composers, arrangers, and conductors for bands in Omaha. His father was the conductor of an army band and growing up in his house, he had access to many musical instruments. From age four G.H. Green showed a prodigious talent as a pianist; he then took up the xylophone and by the age of eleven was being promoted as the “world’s greatest xylophonist” and was playing for crowds of 7,000-10,000. In 1915, when Green was 22 years old, a review in the United States Musician stated: "He has begun where every other xylophone player left off. His touch, his attack, his technique, and his powers of interpretation in the rendition of his solos being far different than other performers. To say his work is marvelous and wonderful would not fully express it." George Hamilton Green wrote several pieces for solo ragtime xylophone with accompaniment, as well as a xylophone method book which continues to be used by percussion pedagogues across the country. Some of his compositions for xylophone include: "Ragtime Robin", "Cross Corners", "Charleston Capers", "Rainbow Ripples", "Log Cabin Blues", "The Whistler", "Chromatic Fox Trot", and "Jovial Jasper" for piano and xylophone because of his experience on both instruments.

He was a popular recording artist starting in 1916 with the Edison Company and was employed, along with his two brothers, Joe and Lew Green, as the original sound music crew for Walt Disney's first three cartoons.

According to Nathaniel Shilkret, Green was not only a "wonderful xylophone artist," but an inventor. Shilkret said that Green designed the vibraharp at Shilkret's request.

Green was an important ragtime composer and authored many pieces that remain standards for the instrument even today. He retired from performing in the late 1940s to pursue a successful career in cartooning. Green would die in 1970, just a few years before a revival in the popularity of his ragtime xylophone music, and before his induction into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1983 The rebirth of his music was led by members of the NEXUS Percussion Ensemble in the late 1970s. Through their efforts, G.H. Green's xylophone music has been preserved and remains a relevant part of contemporary percussion pedagogy and performance.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 23, 1893 (Omaha), Died 1970

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: xylophone, composer, vibraphone, marimba, arranger, celeste, leader, percussion, bells, lyricist, songwriter, drums

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

Recordings (Results 326-350 of 355 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison 9772 10-in. 10/8/1924 Tea for two Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9773 10-in. 10/8/1924 Then you know that you're in love Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9827 10-in. 11/5/1924 Back where the daffodils grow Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9828 10-in. 11/5/1924 Some other day (Some other girl) Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9949 10-in. 1/20/1925 Those Panama mammas (Are ruining me) Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9950 10-in. 1/20/1925 Oh, Katharina! Green Brothers' Novelty Band ; Arthur Hall Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9973 10-in. 1/28/1925 Fascinating rhythm Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 9974 10-in. 1/28/1925 Oh, lady be good! Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 10253 10-in. 3/12/1925 Log cabin blues Frank E. Banta ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 10254 10-in. 3/12/1925 Chromatic Frank E. Banta ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano instrumentalist, xylophone, composer  
Edison 10325 10-in. 4/20/1925 A little love, a little kiss George Hamilton Green Bells solo instrumentalist, bells  
Edison 10326 10-in. 4/20/1925 Melody of love George Hamilton Green Bells solo instrumentalist, bells  
Edison 10959 10-in. 5/5/1926 As long as I have you Arthur Fields ; Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 10960 10-in. 5/5/1926 Louise you tease Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11272 10-in. 10/29/1926 That what God made mothers for Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11273 10-in. 10/29/1926 Lonely aces (In the West) Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11404 10-in. 12/29/1926 If all the stars were pretty babies (And I was the man in the moon) Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11405 10-in. 12/29/1926 Look up and smile Arthur Fields ; Green Brothers' Novelty Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11577 10-in. 3/16/1927 Concert waltz in G major Frank E. Banta ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano instrumentalist, xylophone, composer  
Edison 11578 10-in. 3/16/1927 Caprice Frank E. Banta ; George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11788 10-in. 7/11/1927 Sweet Yvette George Hamilton Green Star Trio Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, xylophone, leader  
Edison 11789 10-in. 7/12/1927 Havana George Hamilton Green Star Trio Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, xylophone, leader  
Edison 11790 10-in. 7/12/1927 Bolero in D major George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11791 10-in. 7/12/1927 Polonaise militaire George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Edison 11794 10-in. 7/13/1927 La czarine George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
(Results 326-350 of 355 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Green, George Hamilton," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

Green, George Hamilton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

"Green, George Hamilton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861

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