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Vess L. Ossman

Sylvester Louis "Vess" Ossman (August 21, 1868 – December 7, 1923) was a leading five-string banjoist and popular recording artist of the early 20th century.

Birth and Death Data: Born Hudson, Died December 7, 1923 (Fairmont)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1920

Roles Represented in DAHR: banjo, composer, arranger

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

Recordings (Results 401-425 of 591 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 19149 10-in. 12/6/1910 The smiler Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 19664 10-in. 11/15/1911 Ahoy! My lads! Fred Van Eps Banjo solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 77381 10-in. 9/26/1917 Policy King march Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 77578 10-in. 12/14/1917 Old dog tray Carroll Clark Male vocal solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 77579 10-in. 12/14/1917 The little old log cabin in the lane Carroll Clark Male vocal solo, with banjo and orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 30370 12-in. between January and July 1910 Dixie Kitty Cheatham ; Vess L. Ossman Female vocal solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 30371 12-in. between January and September 1910 Scandalize my name (Old Negro song) Kitty Cheatham ; Vess L. Ossman Female vocal solo, with banjo instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 49008 12-in. 11/24/1916 My Hawaiian sunshine Vess L. Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Columbia 49009 12-in. 11/24/1916 You'll always be the same sweet baby Vess L. Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4334 10-in. 12/13/1915 Universal fox trot Vess L. Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4381 10-in. 12/30/1915 Merry whirl Vess L. Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4644 10-in. 4/10/1916 A gay gossoon Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4680 10-in. 4/24/1916 Keep off the grass Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4681 10-in. 4/24/1916 Silver heels Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4939 10-in. 8/22/1916 Beneath a balcony Vess L. Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 4940 10-in. 8/22/1916 Hilda Vess Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 5260 10-in. 1/4/1917 Topsy Vess Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 5261 10-in. 1/4/1917 You'll always be the same sweet baby Vess Ossman's Banjo Orchestra Banjo orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Edison 5897 10-in. 11/23/1917 Laughing song Empire Vaudeville Company ; Edward Meeker Comic scene, with male vocal solo, banjo, and orchestra instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 545 9-in. ca. Sept. 1903 California dance Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 546 9-in. ca. Sept. 1903 The colored major Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 574 9-in. Before June 1903 Pearl of the harem Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 1399 7-in. ca. Dec. 1903 California dance Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 1401 7-in. ca. Dec. 1903 Marriage bells Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
Zonophone 1402 9-in. ca. Dec. 1903 Marriage bells Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano instrumentalist, banjo  
(Results 401-425 of 591 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ossman, Vess L.," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110647.

Ossman, Vess L.. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110647.

"Ossman, Vess L.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110647

External Sources

Wikipedia: Vess L. Ossman

Discogs: Vess L. Ossman

Allmusic: Vess L. Ossman

Grove: Vess L. Ossman

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Ossman, Vess L. - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no98004846

Wikidata: Vess L. Ossman - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6030409

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/29143078

MusicBrainz: Vess L. Ossman - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/1b223dcc-04ca-4c74-948b-813f92468cc3

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