The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

One such record is seared into my memory.

During my school days, I unknowingly played a copy of 'Bake Dat Chicken Pie' to a Black classmate; and I instantly knew I had done something incredibly stupid.

Years later, when I uploaded records, I tried to post disclaimers and warnings, if there was any racial content.

Now, we are in a situation, not so much of 'Those who do not learn from history...' , as, 'Those who erase history intend to repeat it.'

- Bill

Lucius1958 wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:34 pm One such record is seared into my memory.

During my school days, I unknowingly played a copy of 'Bake Dat Chicken Pie' to a Black classmate; and I instantly knew I had done something incredibly stupid.

Years later, when I uploaded records, I tried to post disclaimers and warnings, if there was any racial content.

Now, we are in a situation, not so much of 'Those who do not learn from history...' , as, 'Those who erase history intend to repeat it.'

- Bill

EXCELLENT and eloquent observation at the end, there.

That’s disgusting, I’m sorry Millie.

Bill, you’re spot on.

In an attempt to steer this thread back to the OP's request for information, the Afro-Canadian banjo players James and George Bohee are reputed to be among the first coloured performers to record. They settled in England where they became very popular.
According to contemporary reports, when the Edison phonograph was introduced to Australia by Douglas Archibald in 1890, the demonstration cylinders included banjo duets by the Bohee brothers.
Some of George Bohee's 1898 recordings for Edison Bell are listed in the Recorded Sound Section of the Library of Congress.

My late friend Arthur Pare told me that in those days it was the common thing.That's what I tell people and leave it at that.edisonplayer.

epigramophone, I believe this has recently disproved? I'm pretty sure Louis Vasner was the first coloured to record. While the Unique Quarttete was the first coloured band to record. Correct me if I'm wrong however.

paradroid1793 wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 11:03 am epigramophone, I believe this has recently disproved? I'm pretty sure Louis Vasner was the first coloured to record. While the Unique Quarttete was the first coloured band to record. Correct me if I'm wrong however.

If you read my post more carefully you will see that I said AMONG the first, not THE first, to record.

My two Euro cents.
I came across a few German shellacks from the middle to late 30ties, music, speeches and a "Greeting from Munich to the Reich" Not that I will be playing them anywhere in the open but I do want to keep them. I know that some schools actually use these things to teach about that period and I think it is important that things like this are kept.
It´s history, and not all history is nice. it is full of warts and wounds and really nasty stuff, but without the ability to see the bigger picture the context of history is lost.
Imagine a historian in 3025 or 4025 agonizing over holes in the historic patchwork.
I think that is why we have to keep them, not be ashamed of these artifacts but learn to handle them responsibly.

epigramophone wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 1:20 pm

paradroid1793 wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 11:03 am epigramophone, I believe this has recently disproved? I'm pretty sure Louis Vasner was the first coloured to record. While the Unique Quarttete was the first coloured band to record. Correct me if I'm wrong however.

If you read my post more carefully you will see that I said AMONG the first, not THE first, to record.

My apologies.

m_nakamura wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:00 pm One thing I found interesting that the workers couldn't hide from me was a record called "We Gotta Slap The Dirty Little Jap". Pretty sad how something like music & records were weaponized not just against Japanese, but also the pre-mentioned Minstrel songs.

"We're Gonna Have to Slap..." was in answer to Pearl Harbor. Just sayin'.