Alfred Bryan

Alfred Bryan (September 15, 1871 – April 1, 1958) was a Canadian lyricist.

Bryan was born in Brantford, Ontario. He worked as an arranger in New York and wrote lyrics for many Broadway shows in the late 1910s and early 1920s. In the 1920s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals.

Bryan worked with several composers during his career. Among his collaborators were Henriette Blanke-Belcher, Fred Fischer, Al Sherman, Larry Stock and Joe McCarthy. Perhaps his most successful song was "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" (1915), with music by Al Piantadosi. The song sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and became one of 1915's top-selling songs in the United States. Although Bryan himself was not a committed pacifist, he described the American public's anti-war sentiments in his lyrics.

He died in Gladstone, New Jersey, aged 86.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 15, 1871 (Brantford), Died April 1, 1958 (Gladstone)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 513 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1232 7-in. 2/5/1902 Picture in the sunset skies J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1232 10-in. 2/5/1902 The picture in the sunset skies J. W. Myers Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2055 7-in. 3/4/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2055 10-in. 3/4/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2089 7-in. 3/16/1903 The songbird of Melody Lane William H. Thompson Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2089 10-in. 3/16/1903 The songbird of Melody Lane W. H. Thompson Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor A-28 7-in. 5/21/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor B-28 10-in. 5/21/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor A-31 7-in. 5/21/1903 Only a dream of the golden past Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor B-31 10-in. 5/21/1903 Only a dream of the golden past Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor C-200 [Old series] 12-in. 2/9/1903 or 5/26/1903 The songbird of Melody Lane Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor A-497 7-in. 10/6/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Victor B-497 10-in. 10/6/1903 I'll wed you in the golden summer time John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Victor A-751 7-in. 11/30/1903 The songbird of Melody Lane William H. Thompson Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-751 10-in. 11/30/1903 The songbird of Melody Lane W. H. Thompson Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor A-885 7-in. 1/7/1904 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-885 10-in. 1/7/1904 Mary Ellen Billy Murray Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-1752 10-in. 10/11/1904 Down at the baby store Byron G. Harlan Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-1915 10-in. 11/9/1904 Just for the sake of society James McCool Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-1915 12-in. 11/9/1904 Just for the sake of society James McCool Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2098 10-in. 12/28/1904 When the bees are in the hive Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2498 10-in. 4/27/1905 Come along little girl Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet and male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor E-3203 8-in. 3/23/1906 Is it warm enough for you? Billy Murray Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3920 10-in. 10/23/1906 Cheer up, Mary Haydn Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-4039 10-in. 11/14/1906 Cheer up, Mary Byron G. Harlan Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 513 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bryan, Alfred," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

Bryan, Alfred. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828.

"Bryan, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105828

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