Olly Oakley Explained

James Sharpe (1877–1943), also known as Olly Oakley,[1] was a British banjo player and composer. He was considered a prominent zither-banjo player in England.[2] [3] His music made up a part of early banjo recordings on the phonograph,[4] [5] and during his life, he became "the most widely recorded English banjoist". Other than his performing name of Olly Oakley, he alternately recorded under the pseudonyms Fred Turner, Signor Cetra, Jack Sherwood, Mr F Curtis, Frank Forrester, and Tim Holes.

Life and career

James Sharpe was born in Birmingham, England[6] in 1877.[7] He started to play the banjo around age 12 after hearing the Bohee Brothers' music.[7] Sharpe's music was influenced by minstrel songs, with a style of playing that was similar to the Bohee Brothers'. He played ragtime music,[8] sentimental songs and original pieces.[9]

From the late 1890s to the 1930s, Sharpe made hundreds of recordings[7] on various labels and performed at British music halls.[10] During the 1910s, his compositions for banjo were played at various concert programs in England.[7] In 1915, he toured South Africa, performing on the banjo.[11]

He made recordings including with Pathé and was filmed on Phonofilm.

Sharpe died in 1943.[7]

Discography

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897 – 1942 . 2001 . Mainspring Press . 1262 . 18 August 2021.
  2. News: Banjo and Mandoline Concert in Derby . 16 August 2021 . The Derby Mercury . 1 November 1899 . 2.
  3. News: Llandudno Pier Company's Popular Concerts . 16 August 2021 . North Wales Chronicle . 14 April 1900 . 7.
  4. Book: Gammond . Peter . The Oxford companion to popular music . 1991 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-311323-7 . 39 . 16 August 2021.
  5. Book: Ragtime: Its History, Composers, and Music . 1985 . Schirmer Books . 978-0-02-871650-3 . 351–352 . 16 August 2021.
  6. Book: Whitcomb . Ian . Irving Berlin and Ragtime America . 1988 . Limelight Editions . 978-0-87910-115-2 . 153 . 16 August 2021.
  7. Winans . Robert B. . Kaufman . Elias J. . Minstrel and Classic Banjo: American and English Connections . American Music . 1994 . 12 . 1 . 18–22 . 10.2307/3052489 . 3052489 . 0734-4392.
  8. Book: Cook . Richard . Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia . 2005 . Penguin . 978-0-14-100646-8 . 511 . 18 August 2021.
  9. News: Woolfe . Geoff . Banjo brilliance: Bohee Brothers inspired generation of Bristolians . 16 August 2021 . Western Daily Press . 16 Oct 2018 . 4 . . ProQuest.
  10. Web site: British Dance Bands, 1912-1939. Brian. Rust. August 6, 1973. Storyville Publications. Google Books.
  11. Book: Meadows . Eddie S. . Jazz research and performance materials : a select annotated bibliography . 1995 . Garland Pub. . 978-0-8153-0373-2 . 688 . 18 August 2021.
  12. Book: Marco, Guy A.. Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound in the United States. August 6, 1993. Garland Pub.. 9780824047825. Google Books.
  13. Web site: Edison Amberola Monthly. Thomas A. Edison. Inc. August 6, 1909. Pennant Litho, Incorporated. Google Books.
  14. Web site: Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project. Santa Barbara Library Department of Special Collections. University of California. November 16, 2005. cylinders.library.ucsb.edu.
  15. Book: Rust, Brian. Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897-1942: L-Z. August 6, 2002. Mainspring Press. 9780967181929. Google Books.
  16. Book: Woodhouse, Robert. York Book of Days. February 29, 2012. The History Press. 9780752485959. Google Books.
  17. The Edison Phonograph Monthly (Jan-Dec 1912) . February 1912 . 19 . 17 August 2021 . National Phonograph Co..

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