The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

High All,
I just bought three of the new Edison recordings from Norman Bruderhofer. I did not by the record 5801 cut in 1924 but it aroused my curiosity. So I ask, "Can any one tell me the date and label of the recording of various black artists such as{[( singers, Bands etc.!!)]}?"?
Thank You all kindly,
Allen

George W. Johnson, an African-American, recorded "The laughing Song" and others around 1900, possibly earlier. He recorded both on discs and cylinders for Victor, Edison and Columbia. I don't know if there was anyone before him.

Jim

George W. Johnson's The Laughing Song starts at around 1890-91. I don't know how many times he recorded it. He also supposedly made tinfoil recordings.

Hi again,
Norman's NB-5801 Mad Mama's Blues was he says recorded for Edison in 1923 by Josie Miles singing, accompanied by The Kansas City Five with a cornet solo inserted. Is there any one that can cite any earlier recordings between the the late eighteen ninety+ records and this Edison record in particular singers or bands?
Thank you all kindly,
Allen

George W. Johnson for the Metropolitan Phonograph Co. of New York, 1890 is the first documented black recording artist to make commercial records. According to the book Lost Sounds by Tim Brooks.

From what I understand, George W. Johnson was the first black artist. I am still looking for someone to come out with a brown wax or black wax replica of his "Laughing Song" on reproduction resin record.

Johnson's other big piece was The Whistling Coon.

Some of Tim Brooks' writing on Johnson is online. http://www.timbrooks.net/george-w-johns ... ding-star/

A Ford 1 wrote:Hi again...

Is this asking if other black people made records btw. 1890 and 1923 ?

Many did. Bert Williams is another very famous black entertainer of his time.

Jim Europe made some ragtime band records for Pathé in the late 'teens.

As for "etc.", there were several recordings, made on both 2 and 4 minute format Edison cylinders, of Polk Miller's Old South Quartet - a great African-American ensemble. There were also some recitations by Edward Sterling Wright of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poems.

Bill

Thank you all for the posts to date. I will add that J. Europe also recorded piano music for the Welte reproducing piano as did Johney Johnson.
Allen