This article is about the singer with the Haydn Quartet. For the vaudeville entertainer and theater entrepreneur, see Sherman H. Dudley.
Samuel Holland Rous (15 January 1864 – 6 June 1947), who recorded using the name S. H. Dudley, and less frequently as Frank Kernell, was an American singer, pioneer recording artist, and music business executive. He was unrelated to the black vaudeville performer and impresarioSherman Houston Dudley.
He was born in Greencastle, Indiana, the son of a music teacher.[1][2] After leaving school he found work as a baritone in touring light opera companies,[3] and from the mid-1880s — with his wife, Sofia Romani, a soprano — toured the US, Mexico and South America as a member of the Emma Juch and Marie Tavary operatic ensembles.[4][5] He continued to perform opera until 1896, when he began recording for the Berliner and Edison companies, both as a solo performer and as a member of vocal groups. On recordings he used the pseudonym S. H. Dudley, perhaps deliberately using the name of the black vaudeville performer Sherman H. Dudley who was becoming popular at that time. Rous later claimed he was ignorant of the "real" S. H. Dudley's existence.[6]
Musical careeredit
He principally recorded for Victor Records. As a solo singer, using the name Dudley, he often recorded "coon songs" and other stereotypical minstrel show material.[3][6] One of his biggest commercial successes was his recording of "When Reuben Comes To Town" in 1901.[5] He recorded the song "Whistling", a skill for which he was noted and comic songs such as "Miss Helen Hunt", with the mildly risqué line "Go to Helen Hunt for it".[1] He also recorded as a duo with Harry Macdonough.[5]
In 1902, Sam Rous, using his real name, was appointed as assistant manager of Victor Records' artists and repertoire division. He gave the company's star singer Billy Murray the sobriquet "The Denver Nightingale".[9] Rous continued to record for several years, both as Dudley and using the pseudonym Frank Kernell, but at a much-reduced level.[3] He was also the first editor of Victor's record catalog, the Victor Book of the Opera (or Victrola Book of the Opera), first published in 1912.[4][7] This contained illustrated details of the plots and production histories of operas, and cataloged available Victor recordings of them. The book went through many editions and remained in print until 1976.[10]
Later life and deathedit
He retired in 1919, and with his wife went to live in France. They returned to the U.S. shortly before World War II and lived in California. Rous died in Los Angeles in 1947, at the age of 83; his wife, who had been paralyzed for several years, died the next day.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abFree Music Archive, Moonlighter's Serenade, 25 March 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^US Passport Application, 1920. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^ abcTim Brooks, Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919, University of Illinois Press, 2004, p.520
^ abcdBillboard obituary, Sam H. Rous, 5 July 1947. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^ abcWhitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. pp. 142. ISBN0-89820-083-0.
^ abAllan Sutton, Harry Macdonough - Victor's Singing Executive, Mainspring Press. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^ abLibrary of Congress: S. H. Dudley. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^Whitburn, Pop Memories 1890-1954: The History of American Popular Music pp. 201-203
^"The Denver Nightingale", Billy Murray fan site. Retrieved 23 May 2013
^Library of Congress National Jukebox: Victrola Book of the Opera. Retrieved 23 May 2013
dudley, singer, this, article, about, singer, with, haydn, quartet, vaudeville, entertainer, theater, entrepreneur, sherman, dudley, samuel, holland, rous, january, 1864, june, 1947, recorded, using, name, dudley, less, frequently, frank, kernell, american, si. This article is about the singer with the Haydn Quartet For the vaudeville entertainer and theater entrepreneur see Sherman H Dudley Samuel Holland Rous 15 January 1864 6 June 1947 who recorded using the name S H Dudley and less frequently as Frank Kernell was an American singer pioneer recording artist and music business executive He was unrelated to the black vaudeville performer and impresario Sherman Houston Dudley S H DudleyBackground informationBirth nameSamuel Holland RousAlso known asS H Dudley Frank KernellBorn 1864 01 15 January 15 1864Greencastle Indiana U S DiedJune 6 1947 1947 06 06 aged 83 Los Angeles California U S Occupation s Singer Music executiveInstrument s VocalsYears active1880 1919LabelsVictorFormerly ofThe Haydn QuartetSpouse s Sofia Romani Contents 1 Early life 2 Musical career 2 1 Edison Male Quartet 2 2 Victor Records 3 Later life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editHe was born in Greencastle Indiana the son of a music teacher 1 2 After leaving school he found work as a baritone in touring light opera companies 3 and from the mid 1880s with his wife Sofia Romani a soprano toured the US Mexico and South America as a member of the Emma Juch and Marie Tavary operatic ensembles 4 5 He continued to perform opera until 1896 when he began recording for the Berliner and Edison companies both as a solo performer and as a member of vocal groups On recordings he used the pseudonym S H Dudley perhaps deliberately using the name of the black vaudeville performer Sherman H Dudley who was becoming popular at that time Rous later claimed he was ignorant of the real S H Dudley s existence 6 Musical career editHe principally recorded for Victor Records As a solo singer using the name Dudley he often recorded coon songs and other stereotypical minstrel show material 3 6 One of his biggest commercial successes was his recording of When Reuben Comes To Town in 1901 5 He recorded the song Whistling a skill for which he was noted and comic songs such as Miss Helen Hunt with the mildly risque line Go to Helen Hunt for it 1 He also recorded as a duo with Harry Macdonough 5 Edison Male Quartet edit He was an integral member of the Edison Male Quartet which became the Haydn Quartet along with Harry Macdonough John Bieling and William F Hooley 4 7 The group was one of the most popular of the period and had many successes including In the Good Old Summer Time 1903 Bedelia 1904 Sweet Adeline You re the Flower of My Heart 1904 How d You Like To Spoon With Me with Corinne Morgan 1906 Take Me Out to the Ball Game with Billy Murray 1908 Sunbonnet Sue 1908 Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet 1909 and By the Light of the Silv ry Moon with Murray 1910 On some of the group s later recordings he was replaced by Reinald Werrenrath 8 Victor Records edit In 1902 Sam Rous using his real name was appointed as assistant manager of Victor Records artists and repertoire division He gave the company s star singer Billy Murray the sobriquet The Denver Nightingale 9 Rous continued to record for several years both as Dudley and using the pseudonym Frank Kernell but at a much reduced level 3 He was also the first editor of Victor s record catalog the Victor Book of the Opera or Victrola Book of the Opera first published in 1912 4 7 This contained illustrated details of the plots and production histories of operas and cataloged available Victor recordings of them The book went through many editions and remained in print until 1976 10 Later life and death editHe retired in 1919 and with his wife went to live in France They returned to the U S shortly before World War II and lived in California Rous died in Los Angeles in 1947 at the age of 83 his wife who had been paralyzed for several years died the next day 4 References edit a b Free Music Archive Moonlighter s Serenade 25 March 2010 Retrieved 23 May 2013 US Passport Application 1920 Retrieved 23 May 2013 a b c Tim Brooks Lost Sounds Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry 1890 1919 University of Illinois Press 2004 p 520 a b c d Billboard obituary Sam H Rous 5 July 1947 Retrieved 23 May 2013 a b c Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 The History of American Popular Music Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc pp 142 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 a b Allan Sutton Harry Macdonough Victor s Singing Executive Mainspring Press Retrieved 23 May 2013 a b Library of Congress S H Dudley Retrieved 23 May 2013 Whitburn Pop Memories 1890 1954 The History of American Popular Music pp 201 203 The Denver Nightingale Billy Murray fan site Retrieved 23 May 2013 Library of Congress National Jukebox Victrola Book of the Opera Retrieved 23 May 2013External links editS H Dudley recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title S H Dudley singer amp oldid 1208154834, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
