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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 151-175 of 355 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W140572 10-in. 5/1/1925 To a wild rose George Hamilton Green Bells solo, unaccompanied instrumentalist, bells  
Columbia W140599 10-in. 5/13/1925 A little love, a little kiss George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo, unaccompanied instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Columbia W140652 10-in. 6/5/1925 Silent night, hallowed night George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Columbia W140653 10-in. 6/5/1925 Adeste fideles George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Columbia W141487 10-in. 1/13/1926 Jovial Jasper George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano instrumentalist, xylophone, composer  
Columbia W141488 10-in. 1/13/1926 Steppin' along George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano instrumentalist, xylophone, composer  
Columbia W141598 10-in. 2/3/1926 Charleston capers George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano instrumentalist, xylophone, composer  
Columbia W142685 10-in. 9/24/1926 A perfect day George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo, with violin, cello, and piano instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Columbia W142686 10-in. 9/24/1926 Whispering hope George Hamilton Green Vibraphone solo, with violin, cello, and piano instrumentalist, vibraphone  
Columbia W142724 10-in. 10/4/1926 Dancing stars George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W142725 10-in. 10/4/1926 Dance of the toy regiment George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W144372 10-in. 7/14/1927 Sing me a baby song George H. Green Trio Instrumental trio, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W144373 10-in. 7/14/1927 No wonder I'm happy (My baby's in love with me) George H. Green Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W144453 10-in. 7/11/1927 An Indian story George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W144454 10-in. 7/11/1927 The humming bird George Hamilton Green Xylophone solo, with piano composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W144536 10-in. 8/8/1927 No wonder I'm happy (my baby's in love with me) Vaughn De Leath ; George H. Green Trio Instrumental trio, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W148068 10-in. 3/13/1929 Sweet Hawaiian dream girl Green Brothers' Novelty Marimba Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W148069 10-in. 3/13/1929 Underneath the blue Hawaiian skies Green Brothers' Novelty Marimba Band Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, xylophone  
Columbia W148945 10-in. 8/28/1929 If I had my way Charlie Lawman Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 148954 10-in. 8/30/1929 If I had my way Lou Gold Orchestra ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W148968 10-in. 9/3/1929 If I had my way Merle Johnston and his Ceco Couriers Jazz/dance band composer  
OKeh 217 10-in. approximately July 1918 Watermelon whispers Joe Green ; Rega's Novelty Dance Orchestra Xylophone solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
OKeh 336 10-in. ca. Sept. 1918 Frivolity All Star Trio Instrumental trio composer, instrumentalist, xylophone  
OKeh 457 10-in. ca. Nov. 1918 Sensation All Star Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, xylophone  
OKeh 458 10-in. ca. Nov. 1918 The St. Louis blues All Star Trio Instrumental trio instrumentalist, xylophone  
(Results 151-175 of 355 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Green, George Hamilton," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

Green, George Hamilton. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104861.

"Green, George Hamilton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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