Ralph Sylvester Peer

Ralph Sylvester Peer (May 22, 1892 – January 19, 1960) was an American talent scout, recording engineer, record producer and music publisher in the 1920s and 1930s. Peer pioneered field recording of music when in June 1923 he took remote recording equipment south to Atlanta, Georgia, to record regional music outside the recording studio in such places as hotel rooms, ballrooms, or empty warehouses.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 22, 1892 (Kansas City), Died January 19, 1960

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: session supervisor, director

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 1333 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-35762 10-in. 7/13/1926 Lazy drag Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-35763 10-in. 7/13/1926 Jackass blues Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-35764 10-in. 7/13/1926 Charleston stampede Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36047 10-in. 8/17/1926 Georgia grind Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36048 10-in. 8/17/1926 Ham gravy Thomas Morris ; Morris' Hot Babies Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36081 10-in. 8/31/1926 What have you done to make me feel this way Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36082 10-in. 8/31/1926 I once was yours, I'm somebody else's now Mamie Smith Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance ensemble session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36097 10-in. 9/6/1926 No sooner Elizabeth Smith Female vocal solo, with ukulele session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36098 10-in. 9/6/1926 Gwine have bad luck for seven years Elizabeth Smith Female vocal solo, with clarinet, cornet, and piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36356 10-in. 9/27/1926 Black cat bone blues Robert Cooksey ; Bobby Leecan Guitar and harmonica duet session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36357 10-in. 9/27/1926 Dirty guitar blues Robert Cooksey ; Bobby Leecan Guitar and harmonica duet session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36358 10-in. 9/27/1926 Philadelphia cutout Robert Cooksey ; Bobby Leecan Guitar and harmonica duet session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36359 10-in. 9/27/1926 Hesitating blues Robert Cooksey ; Bobby Leecan Guitar and harmonica duet session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36505 10-in. 9/21/1926 Alabama mamma Mike Jackson Male vocal solo, with piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36506 10-in. 9/21/1926 Kissing mule blues Mike Jackson Male vocal solo, with piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36621 10-in. 10/18/1926 When my wants run out Sidney Easton ; Elizabeth Smith Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36622 10-in. 10/18/1926 Talk 'bout somethin' that's gwine to happen Sidney Easton ; Elizabeth Smith Female-male vocal duet, with guitar and piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36846 10-in. 10/20/1926 When a 'gator holler, folks say it's a sign of rain Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36847 10-in. 10/20/1926 Graysom Street blues Margaret Johnson Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36895 10-in. 11/2/1926 My baby doesn't squawk New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36896 10-in. 11/2/1926 The king of the Zulus New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36897 10-in. 11/2/1926 South Rampart Street blues New Orleans Blue Five Jazz/dance band session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36916 10-in. 11/9/1926 If you don't like potatoes Monette Moore Female vocal solo, with clarinet, cornet, and piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36917 10-in. 11/9/1926 Somebody's been lovin' my baby Monette Moore Female vocal solo, with clarinet, cornet, and piano session supervisor  
Victor BVE-36958 10-in. 11/23/1926 I got a mule to ride Edna Winston Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble session supervisor  
(Results 1-25 of 1333 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Peer, Ralph Sylvester," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/115769.

Peer, Ralph Sylvester. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/115769.

"Peer, Ralph Sylvester." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/115769

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