American Quartet

The American Quartet was a four-member vocal group that recorded for various companies in the United States between 1899 and 1925. The membership varied over the years, but the most famous line-up — comprising John Bieling (first tenor), Billy Murray (second tenor), Steve Porter (baritone), and William F. Hooley (bass) — recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company from 1909 to 1913. The same group of singers also recorded for Edison Records as the Premier Quartet (or Quartette), and for that and other labels as the Premier American Quartet. From 1912 to 1914 the quartet also recorded with countertenor Will Oakland as the Heidelberg Quintet.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1909, Died Ceased 1922

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1926

Roles Represented in DAHR: Vocal group

Notes: Listed on some disc labels as American Quartette.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 364 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]42[a] 7-in. 10/26/1900 A Negro wedding in southern Georgia American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]42[a] 10-in. 3/18/1902 A Negro wedding in southern Georgia American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]43[a] 7-in. 5/25/1900 Night trip to Buffalo American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]43[a] 10-in. 10/26/1901 A night trip to Buffalo Haydn Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]48 10-in. 12/4/1902 Sidewalks of New York American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]910 7-in. 7/17/1901 Medley of plantation songs American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]911 7-in. 7/17/1901 Dancing on the old barn floor American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]912 7-in. 7/17/1901 Darling Nellie Gray American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]913 7-in. 7/17/1901 Louisiana Lou American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]913 10-in. 3/18/1902 Louisiana Lou American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]914 7-in. 7/17/1901 Good-bye Dolly Gray American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]915 7-in. 7/17/1901 In Dixie land American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]915 10-in. 10/26/1901 In Dixie land American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]916 7-in. 7/17/1901 The bridge American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]917 7-in. 7/17/1901 Nationality medley American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]917 10-in. 3/18/1902 Nationality medley American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1067 7-in. 10/26/1901 The wedding of Reuben and the maid American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1067 10-in. 10/26/1901 The wedding of Reuben and the maid American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1071 7-in. 10/26/1901 Portions of the last speech of President McKinley and his favorite hymns William F. Hooley Recitation, with male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1071 10-in. 10/26/1901 Portions of the last speech of President McKinley and his favorite hymns William F. Hooley Recitation, with male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1072 7-in. 10/26/1901 Medley of patriotic songs American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1072 10-in. 10/26/1901 Medley of patriotic songs American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1330 7-in. 3/18/1902 The battle of Santiago American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1330 10-in. 3/18/1902 The battle of Santiago American Quartet Male vocal quartet Vocal group  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1331 7-in. 3/18/1902 The wedding of the Reuben and the maid American Quartet Male vocal quartet, with piano Vocal group  
(Results 1-25 of 364 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "American Quartet," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

American Quartet. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552.

"American Quartet." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106552

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