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 76-100 of 513 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-14825 10-in. 5/15/1914 Over the Alpine mountains Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-14961 10-in. 6/16/1914 The high cost of loving Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-14964 10-in. 6/17/1914 When it's night-time down in Burgundy George MacFarlane Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15553 10-in. 12/30/1914 I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier Morton Harvey Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15613 10-in. 1/20/1915 Over the hills to Mary James F. Harrison ; James Reed Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-16220 10-in. 7/23/1915 The sweetest girl in Monterey James F. Harrison ; James Reed Male vocal duet, with mandolin and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17201 10-in. 2/24/1916 He's my cousin if she's your niece Marie Cahill Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-17707 10-in. 5/18/1916 Come back to Arizona James F. Harrison ; James Reed Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-18026 10-in. 6/27/1916 On Lake Champlain Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19108 10-in. 1/22/1917 She's Dixie all the time American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19615 10-in. 4/23/1917 It's time for every boy to be a soldier Charles Hart Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-19756 10-in. 5/8/1917 Joan of Arc Willie Weston Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21220 10-in. 12/3/1917 Sweet little buttercup Shannon Four ; Elizabeth Spencer Female vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21221 10-in. 12/3/1917 There's a vacant chair in every home tonight Shannon Four Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21283 10-in. 12/24/1917 Lorraine Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21284 10-in. 12/24/1917 Joan of Arc, they are calling you Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21285 10-in. 12/24/1917 The chimes of Normandy Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21641 10-in. 3/20/1918 There's a lump of sugar down in Dixie Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21937 10-in. 5/28/1918 Cheer up, Father, cheer up, Mother Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21983 10-in. 6/12/1918 When Alexander takes his ragtime band to France Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor B-21994 10-in. 6/18/1918 There's a lump of sugar down in Dixie Marion Harris Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22221 10-in. 9/5/1918 Oui, oui, Marie Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23089 10-in. 7/23/1919 Sahara (We'll soon be dry like you) Esther Walker Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23752 10-in. 2/27/1920 Hiawatha's melody of love Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23775 10-in. 3/16/1920 The hen and the cow (Only a dream of the past) Artie Mehlinger Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 76-100 of 513 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bryan, Alfred," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

Bryan, Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

"Bryan, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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