American Quartet

The American Quartet was a four-member vocal group that recorded for various companies in the United States between 1899 and 1925. The membership varied over the years, but the most famous line-up — comprising John Bieling (first tenor), Billy Murray (second tenor), Steve Porter (baritone), and William F. Hooley (bass) — recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company from 1909 to 1913. The same group of singers also recorded for Edison Records as the Premier Quartet (or Quartette), and for that and other labels as the Premier American Quartet. From 1912 to 1914 the quartet also recorded with countertenor Will Oakland as the Heidelberg Quintet.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1909, Died Ceased 1922

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1926

Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group

Notes: Listed on some disc labels as American Quartette.

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

Recordings (Results 276-300 of 364 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	[Trial 1913-11-06-01]	Not documented	11/6/1913	Dixie days	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with piano	Vocal group
Victor	[Trial 1917-02-14-07]	Not documented	2/14/1917	Because you're Irish	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with piano	Vocal group
Victor	[Trial 1919-03-05-02]	Not documented	3/5/1919	Anything is nice if it comes from Dixieland	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with piano	Vocal group
Columbia	78348	10-in.	3/14/1919	Lullaby blues	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Columbia	78349	10-in.	3/14/1919	Turkestan	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Columbia	78409	10-in.	4/23/1919	Jazzola	Yerkes Southern Five	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet	Vocal group
Columbia	78581	10-in.	7/19/1919	Train-time at Pumpkin Center	American Quartet ; Cal Stewart	Descriptive scene	Vocal group
Columbia	78582	10-in.	7/19/1919	A meeting at the Hen Roost Club	American Quartet ; Cal Stewart	Descriptive scene	Vocal group
Columbia	78605	10-in.	7/28/1919	A possum supper at the Darktown Church	American Quartet ; Cal Stewart	Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with organ	Vocal group
Columbia	78606	10-in.	7/28/1919	The sunday school picnic at Pumpkin Center	American Quartet ; Cal Stewart	Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with organ	Vocal group
Columbia	49610	12-in.	3/29/1919	Mammy o' mine	Premier American Quartette ; Yerkes Jazarimba Band	Jazz/dance band, with vocal quartet	Vocal group
OKeh	611	10-in.	ca. Feb. 1919	[Unknown title(s)]	Premier American Quartette	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
OKeh	612	10-in.	ca. Feb. 1919	Lullaby blues	Premier-American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
OKeh	S-7379	10-in.	Apr. 1920	There's a typical Tipperary over here	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
OKeh	S-7446	10-in.	May 1920	I love the land of Old Black Joe	American Quartet	Male vocal quartet	Vocal group
OKeh	[OK cat 1205-A]	10-in.	approximately 1919	Turkestan	Premier American Quartette	Male vocal quartet	Vocal group
OKeh	[OK cat 1224-A]	10-in.	approximately 1919	Jazzola	Premier American Quartette	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
OKeh	[OK cat 1226-b]	10-in.	approximately 1919	Dixie is Dixie once more	Premier American Quartette	Male vocal quartet	Vocal group
Edison	834	10-in.	10/24/1911	A night trip to Buffalo	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet	Vocal group
Edison	835	Not documented	10/24/1911	Down on the Mississippi	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet	Vocal group
Edison	3538	10-in.	1/22/1915	Tennessee, I hear you calling me	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Edison	3708	10-in.	4/15/1915	I'm on my way to Dublin Bay	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Edison	3743	10-in.	3/3/1915	Moonlight Bay	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Edison	4023	10-in.	7/27/1915	Circus day in Dixie	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group
Edison	4298	10-in.	11/29/1915	Along the rocky road to Dublin	Premier Quartet	Male vocal quartet, with orchestra	Vocal group

(Results 276-300 of 364 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "American Quartet," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

American Quartet. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

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

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