Tell Taylor

William "Tell" Taylor (aka Tellie Tell Roberts;(October 28, 1876 – November 23, 1937). Tell was born October 28, 1876 to Clarinda Jane Roberts (1854-1930) and John Asbury Taylor (1853-1928), on a farm near the Village of Vanlue, Amanda Township, Hancock County, Ohio. He was an American traveling vaudeville performer, tenor vocalist, playwright, music publisher, composer, and lyricist who had written over 200 popular songs. His biggest hit was "Down by the Old Mill Stream" from 1910, one of the most commercially successful Tin Pan Alley publications of the era. The song was published by Tell Taylor, Inc., which he had co-founded in 1907. Taylor performed vaudeville theaters and founded a Chicago music publishing house bearing his name. His other notable songs include "He Sleeps Beneath the Soil of France," "I Love You Best of All," "If Dreams Come True," "Little Old Home in the Valley," "Rock Me to Sleep in the Old Rocking Chair," "Some Day," and "When the Maple Leaves Were Falling." Taylor also wrote the Broadway comedies Tiger Lillee and In New York Town.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 14, 1876 (Vanlue), Died November 24, 1937 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1905 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 26-30 of 30 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E23135-E23137 10-in. 5/13/1927 Down by the old mill stream Dixieland Four Male vocal quartet, with piano composer, lyricist  
Brunswick 713W-714W 10-in. 4/15/1925 Down by the old mill stream Uncle Dave Macon ; Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo composer, lyricist  
Edison 3392 10-in. 10/2/1914 Down by the old mill stream Arthur C. Clough Tenor vocal solo and vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison 4773 10-in. 6/6/1916 When that little yellow fellow plays piano (Hannah plays banjo) Collins and Harlan Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL8616 10-in. 11/16/1948 Le moulin fleuri Aimé Barelli ; Lucienne Delyle Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 26-30 of 30 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Taylor, Tell," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107037.

Taylor, Tell. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107037.

"Taylor, Tell." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107037

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