Dion De Marbelle

Daniel de Marbelle (also known as Dion de Marbelle) (1818-1903) was an American gospel songwriter, soldier, musician, and early circus clown who wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells (also known as "There's a Land Beyond the River").

Marbelle was born in Leon in France (or Spain) in 1817 or 1818 and emigrated to the United States as a young child. Early in life, Marbelle worked on a whaling ship and eventually joined the United States Navy. During the Mexican-American War in 1847, Marbelle served as a drummer with a New York company. In 1858 he married Ann Sitts in McHenry, Illinois. During the American Civil War he served as a drum major in the 6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. After the War, Marbelle travelled as an actor and musician and was the first clown in the James Anthony Bailey circus, before it became part of the P.T. Barnum Circus. Marbelle also ran his own circus for a period, and assisted Buffalo Bill Cody in setting up his Wild West Show. Marbelle also sang in a Methodist choir in Elgin, Illinois where he had a brass band and called figures at square dances. Marbelle was purportedly cheated out of the copyright of his 1887 hit, "When They Ring Those Golden Bells," and the copyright was acquired by the John Church Company. Marbelle died penniless in 1903 in Aledo, Illinois at the Soldier's Home and was buried in the Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Illinois.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1818, Died 1903

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1929

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

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-16472 10-in. 9/13/1915 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Imperial Quartet Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Victor BVE-39742 10-in. 7/29/1927 When they ring the golden bells Alfred G. Karnes Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) composer  
Victor BVE-39760 10-in. 8/3/1927 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Fred H. Greever ; John B. Kelly ; J. V. Snavely Male vocal trio composer  
Columbia 80068 10-in. 11/15/1921 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia W141009 10-in. 9/29/1925 When they ring the golden bells Jack Pickell Male vocal solo, with violin and piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia W141907 10-in. 4/2/1926 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Columbia W142227 10-in. 5/20/1926 When they ring the golden bells William McEwan Male vocal solo, with organ, violin, and chimes lyricist, composer  
OKeh S-73134 10-in. Jan. 1925 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Justin Ring Trio ; Shannon Quartet Male vocal quartet, with instrumental trio, chimes, and bells composer, lyricist  
OKeh W401226 10-in. 10/15/1928 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal quartet composer, lyricist  
OKeh W402069 10-in. 8/6/1928 When they ring those golden bells for you and me Foundation Quartette Male vocal quartet, with instrumental trio composer  
Brunswick 14550-14553 10-in. 12/29/1924 When they ring the golden bells Criterion Quartet Male vocal quartet, with brass quartet, organ, and chimes composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E20192-E20193 10-in. 9/17/1926 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Criterion Quartet Male vocal quartet, with brass quartet, organ, and chimes composer, lyricist  
Brunswick E25596-E25597 10-in. 12/14/1927 When they ring the golden bells Frank McCravy ; James McCravy Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, and piano composer, lyricist  
Edison 9988 10-in. 2/3/1925 When they ring the golden bells for you and me Charles Hart Male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Edison N-1118 10-in. 9/10/1929 When they ring the golden bells Donald Chalmers Male vocal solo, with organ and traps composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "De Marbelle, Dion," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113955.

De Marbelle, Dion. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113955.

"De Marbelle, Dion." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113955

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