Harry P. Guy

Harry P. Guy (1870 – September 16, 1950) was an American ragtime composer.

Guy was born in Zanesville, Ohio, where he wrote his first compositions. He then moved to New York, where he studied under Victor Herbert and started his career writing musical arrangements. He later moved to Detroit in 1895, where he worked first for Whitney-Warner and then Willard Bryant, writing songs for many famous artists of the era. He also composed arrangements for the University of Michigan and University of Detroit. His 1898 song, Echos from the Snowball Club, has become a ragtime classic.

Later in life, Guy fell into obscurity, living alone and in poverty until he died on September 16, 1950. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit in an unmarked grave. His burial place was eventually recognized in 2003 when a group of local enthusiasts and citizens held a ceremony and placed a commemorative marker.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 17, 1870 (Zanesville), Died September 19, 1950 (Detroit)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1919

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= 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 [Pre-matrix A-]1659 7-in. 10/8/1902 The pearl of the harem Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1659 10-in. 10/8/1902 The pearl of the harem Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo composer  
Victor B-10396 10-in. 6/7/1911 Pearl of the harem Fred Van Eps Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1059 7-in. ca. 1902 Pearl of the harem Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1059 10-in. ca. 1902 Pearl of the harem Vess L. Ossman Banjo solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 19471 10-in. 7/26/1911 Pearl of the harem Fred Van Eps Banjo solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 46486 10-in. 3/10/1916 Pearl of the harem Fred Van Eps Banjo solo, with orchestra composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Guy, Harry P.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111671.

Guy, Harry P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111671.

"Guy, Harry P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/111671

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