Russell Alexander

Russell Alexander (February 26, 1877 – October 1, 1915) was an entertainer and composer, active primarily with vaudeville shows and musical comedy organizations.

Alexander was born in Nevada, Missouri, and became a euphonium virtuoso who joined the circus band of Belford's Carnival at the age of 18. At 20, he became arranger and euphonium soloist with the Barnum & Bailey Circus Band and toured Europe from 1897 to 1902. Following his tour with Barnum & Bailey, Russell Alexander worked in a novelty musical vaudeville act with his brothers. Although his compositional output was relatively small, he is considered a great composer of marches. He wrote 33 marches, 6 galops, and several overtures, novelties, and other works. For part of his career he worked in acts with his brothers, Newton and Woodruff.

On July 20, 2015, a memorial plaque honoring Alexander was unveiled on the Main Street Stage in Liberty, NY, just a short distance from the Old Town Cemetery in which Alexander is buried. The ceremony included a performance of seven Alexander works, and the event was sponsored by Windjammers, Unlimited.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 26, 1877, Died October 2, 1915

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1914 - 1947

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 B-15130 10-in. 8/7/1914 The southerner march Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor C-16311 12-in. 8/3/1915 The southerner march Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor BVE-62430 10-in. 5/25/1930 Colossus of Columbia Merle Evans ; Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Band Band composer  
Victor BVE-62434 10-in. 5/25/1930 Circus echoes (Galop) Merle Evans ; Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Band Band composer  
Victor D7VB-1725 10-in. 10/14/1947 March "the southerner" Lester Loucks ; Spring Garden Band Band composer  
Victor D7VB-1726 10-in. 10/14/1947 From the tropic to tropic march Lester Loucks ; Spring Garden Band Band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Alexander, Russell," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109790.

Alexander, Russell. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109790.

"Alexander, Russell." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109790

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