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 1909, Died 1922

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1926

Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group

Notes: Listed on some disc labels as American Quartette.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 364 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1331 10-in. 3/18/1902 The wedding of the Reuben and the maid American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3511 10-in. 7/17/1901 Medley of plantation songs American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3512 10-in. 7/17/1901 Dancing on the old barn floor American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3513 10-in. 7/17/1901 A night trip to Buffalo American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]3513 7-in. 10/26/1901 A night trip to Buffalo American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3514 10-in. 7/17/1901 A Negro wedding in southern Georgia American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3515 10-in. 7/17/1901 Darling Nellie Gray American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3516 10-in. 7/17/1901 Louisiana Lou American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3517 10-in. 7/17/1901 Goodbye Dollie Gray American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]3518 7-in. 10/26/1901 Sidewalks of New York American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3518 10-in. 7/17/1901 Sidewalks of New York American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3519 10-in. 7/17/1901 The battle of Santiago American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3519 10-in. 3/18/1902 The battle of Santiago American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3520 10-in. 7/17/1901 Nationality medley American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor B-6832 10-in. 2/25/1909 Denver town American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra Vocal group  
Victor B-6836 10-in. 2/25/1909 Golden arrow American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra Vocal group  
Victor B-6971 10-in. 4/7/1909 Goodnight moonlight American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-6972 10-in. 4/7/1909 Golden arrow American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8170 10-in. 8/24/1909 Swanee babe American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8171 10-in. 8/24/1909 Little Willie American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8309 10-in. 10/21/1909 Wedding bells American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8582 10-in. 1/31/1910 Medley of Negro songs American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8583 10-in. 1/31/1910 She gave them all to me American Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied Vocal group  
Victor B-8685 10-in. 3/9/1910 He's a college boy American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra Vocal group  
Victor B-8686 10-in. 3/9/1910 Casey Jones American Quartet ; Billy Murray Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra Vocal group  
(Results 26-50 of 364 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "American Quartet," accessed March 8, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

American Quartet. (2021). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 8, 2021, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

"American Quartet." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2021. Web. 8 March 2021.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552

External Sources

Wikipedia: American Quartet (ensemble)

Discogs: American Quartet

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: American Quartet - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n92054722

Wikidata: American Quartet (ensemble) - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4744774

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/153748628/

MusicBrainz: American Quartet - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/b122bc15-258b-4a7e-bb47-ac6db4d10072

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