Classical superstars from my previous post came naturally in the footsteps of previous generations - but not everybody was lucky to get invitations from Metropolitan Opera House, some singers might have sound operatic but opted for popular songs of the day. Out of curiosity I have checked what was actually considered "pop song" at the very beginning of the last century and discovered some cute gems that I truly like. The first one that really caught my attention was this one, lovely duet of Ada Jones and Billy Murray - which led me to more discoveries about them and their contemporaries.
It turns out Ada Jones was very popular "pop singer" of the pre-1920s era so we are now going really way back in time, long before Jazz, Charleston and Prohibition, we are talking about vaudeville, music halls and "Titanic". In fact, this particular duet was mentioned in a movie "Titanic" as soundtrack of times. Jones - who came to USA from her native Lancashire and was successful comedienne who often recorded duets, this one was done when she was almost 40 and it came as surprise that I actually know the song very well.
Not only that, it turned out I am familiar with the next song as well. Ada Jones was really chart topping singer of her time, though this sweet little plump lady would probably be shocked to see how music business have changed with time. What listeners back than considered risque and even bawdy (in other words, not something to be played in elegant salons) is nothing compared with half-naked pop singers today who are definitely going into direction of pornography as the only possible next step. She had recorded tons of singles in her time and is inexplicably forgotten today.
Her duet partner was even more famous, the son of Irish immigrants and affectionately called "The Denver Nightingale" - Murray was superstar of his time and continued to work and perform long after new music trends came along. Again, its one of the songs that I know very well from later jazz versions. Since I heard several other singers of his generations, I can sincerely say that Murray was at the top of his profession.
His friend was Walter Van Brunt who also happened to have Irish background. Van Brunt was equally adorable and I love his voice as well. In popularity he was only second to Murray and this friendship helped him to find work after some messy public scandals, apparently Murray always got him radio engagements. It all sounds like some quaint circus music but since I heard early 1920s recordings now I can see where they came from.
Even earlier generation is Blanche Ring who sounds like true classically trained singer - she was in fact famous theatre entertainer and the next song was one of the biggest hits of her career (and the biggest hit of 1909). She might have been the first to record "Come Josephine" and as really a big deal in her time, though my guess is that she probably appealed to completely different audiences than her legitimate classical music colleagues.
Completely different bird was Nora Bayes who had absolutely no pretensions towards sounding classical - to me she is kind of Sophie Tucker/Al Jolson entertainer who sing-talked and clowned in all sorts of accents, which was very popular at the time. The next song comments on return of American WW1 soldiers from Europe and it was big hit for her. All these old family portraits are fascinating and since I am already familiar with Jolson, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor and several others, this now clears the picture little bit further.
p.s.
Almost forgot wonderful Arthur Collins who was a grandfather of them all - he sang, acted, clowned and was absolutely adorable. He was also known as "King of Ragtime" so naturally this appeals to me very much. Today he is known only to connoisseurs and record collectors, but I have no interest in material worth of collecting, I simply enjoy his music as wonderful uplifting experience. This is probably what young Bing Crosby heard when he was growing up.
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