Alfred Bryan

Alfred Bryan (September 15, 1871 – April 1, 1958) was a Canadian lyricist.

Bryan was born in Brantford, Ontario. He worked as an arranger in New York and wrote lyrics for many Broadway shows in the late 1910s and early 1920s. In the 1920s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals.

Bryan worked with several composers during his career. Among his collaborators were Henriette Blanke-Belcher, Fred Fischer, Al Sherman, Larry Stock and Joe McCarthy. Perhaps his most successful song was "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" (1915), with music by Al Piantadosi. The song sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and became one of 1915's top-selling songs in the United States. Although Bryan himself was not a committed pacifist, he described the American public's anti-war sentiments in his lyrics.

He died in Gladstone, New Jersey, aged 86.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 15, 1871 (Brantford), Died April 1, 1958 (Gladstone)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 301-325 of 513 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 144489 10-in. 7/22/1927 Blue river The Harmonizers Male vocal quartet, with piano lyricist  
Columbia W144545 10-in. 8/17/1927 Blue river Billy "Uke" Carpenter Male vocal solo, with clarinet, guitar, and ukulele lyricist  
Columbia W144771 10-in. 10/27/1927 Blue River Frank Harris ; Hollywood Orchestra ; Vincent Rose ; Jackie Taylor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144929 10-in. 10/29/1927 Rose of the lane Columbians ; Elliott Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 144950 10-in. 11/3/1927 Fair co-ed Frank Farrell ; Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144953 10-in. 11/3/1927 Blue river Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia W144970 10-in. 11/11/1927 Love is just a little bit of heaven Ruth Etting Female vocal solo, with violin and piano lyricist  
Columbia W145663 10-in. 2/23/1928 Humoreskimo Clicquot Club Eskimos ; Harry Reser ; Tom Stacks Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 145699 10-in. 2/29/1928 In the sweet bye and bye Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W145747 10-in. 3/9/1928 My heart is in the roses James Melton Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W145831 10-in. 3/23/1928 Japansy Carmen Lombardo ; Guy Lombardo ; Royal Canadians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 146279 10-in. 4/26/1928 Whisper sweet and whisper low The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146285 10-in. 4/30/1928 Whisper sweet and whisper low California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 146301 10-in. 5/16/1928 Chilly pom pom pee University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146334 10-in. 5/25/1928 Felix the Cat Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146374 10-in. 5/31/1928 Chilly pom pom pee Ben Selvin and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio lyricist  
Columbia 146412 10-in. 6/7/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Andy Sannella All Star Trio Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 146449 10-in. 6/14/1928 He's worth his weight in gold Irving Gillette Male vocal solo, with violin, cello, and piano lyricist  
Columbia W146498 10-in. 6/28/1928 Blueberry Lane Carl Haworth Male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146579 10-in. 6/25/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes Blue Grass Boys ; Lee Morse Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia W146589 10-in. 6/27/1928 Don't keep me in the dark, bright eyes The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 146616 10-in. 7/3/1928 My window of dreams Ernie Golden and his Orchestra ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146749 10-in. 7/19/1928 My window of dreams Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W146974 10-in. 9/10/1928 My window of dreams Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W147693 10-in. 12/4/1928 Wear a hat with a silver lining Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 301-325 of 513 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bryan, Alfred," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

Bryan, Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

"Bryan, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828

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