Clarence Johnson (Columbia/Capitol, US, QRS, Staffnote, Aeolian)

 Clarence 'Jelly' Johnson

B: 18 Apr 1900, Paducah, KY
D: 9 August 1933, Detroit, MI

Clarence Avant Johnson’s exact birth year is debated—his military service records suggest 1897 and his World War I draft card 1898, while his gravestone gives 1900. The 1900 U.S. Census, taken 1 June, lists him as a one-month-old infant born in April, strongly supporting the 1900 date. He was the first child of James Johnson (b. 1877), a bartender, and Eva Johnson (b. 1879).

By 1910, after Eva remarried railroad brakeman T. J. Lewis, the family had moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Clarence’s mother also worked as a seamstress and dressmaker to support the household. During the First World War the family lived at 2509 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, with Clarence working as a laborer for Wilson & Son meatpacking (41 Ashland Ave.) and naming his mother as his next of kin on his draft registration.

In 1917 Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Army, joining the Illinois 370th Infantry Regiment—one of only a handful of African-American units in World War I and the only one commanded entirely by black officers. Segregation policies kept black troops from fighting alongside white American units, so the 370th served under French command, wearing U.S. uniforms but equipped with French rifles and rations. He was demobilized in 1919.

That same year, Clarence cut his first player-piano rolls for Chicago’s U.S. Music Company. Although many bear his own name, collectors believe he also recorded under the pseudonym “Chet Gordon.”

Around 1925 he relocated to Detroit, where he built a modest career performing on local radio station WJBK and leading small local bands. His broadcasts ceased abruptly in early July 1933 as his health declined. Dr. G. L. Graham, who had attended him since 31 July, certified his death on 9 August 1933 as “acute dilatation” of the heart—today understood as sudden heart failure—precipitated by chronic myocarditis. His wife, Coleather Johnson, served as informant (she mistakenly gave his birthplace as Tennessee and was unaware of his birth parents).

Clarence was laid to rest on 16 August 1933 in Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky, his headstone marked with a harp motif in tribute to his musical life. His mother survived him by more than twenty years, passing away in California in 1956.

Annabelle Taylor (Atlas)

The most probable candidate, as yet unproven, is

Anna H. Taylor (nee Doherty)

B: 17 March 1887
D: 1 August 1980, Long Island, NY

Born in Orange, NJ, Anna was the daughter of an Irish-American firefighter and an Irish immigrant mother. She was working as a music teacher in the 1910 census.

Married Alfred Maria Taylor in 1912. As 'Al Taylor', he was a popular and prolific vaudeville performer and singer in the New Jersey area for well over 20 years. Often singing with his brother George as the 'Taylor Brothers', he is listed on occasion as performing with his wife accompanying on the piano.

They had three children, all with the same initials - A.M.T. Their only son, Alfred M. Taylor Jr, was killed in action in WW2. 

Anna, while having no profession in the 1920 and 1930 Census, is listed as a 'church organist' in the 1940 census while Alfred had gone from restaurant management into real estate and insurance sales, but by 1950 both appear to be retired, living with their daughter's family.

Her husband died in 1953 but Annabelle lived until age 93.

Edward F. Geoghegan (Aeolian, QRS)

Edward Francis Geoghegan
B: 8 October 1885, Centralia County, PA
D: 14 April 1938, Yonkers, New York City

Ed Geoghegan was, as the name suggest, born of Irish parents, his father being born in County Mayo. He had five siblings (4 brothers and a sister).

WW1 draft, he described himself as tall with stout build, brown hair and eyes. Working as a musician, employer was Max Boehm, 207th and Broadway. He was residing at 511 W 185th St, also teaching music. One of his brothers (Harry) was killed in action in the war. 

As well as piano he also performed and taught accordion. Described as a 'specialist in Irish music'. Also recorded Irish music for Victor and Columbia from 1924-1929, accompanying singers and accordionists as well as 'Ed. Geoghegan & His Orchestra' for Victor and two piano solos in September 1928. performed locally as 'Ed Geoghegan's Emerald Trio'. His name was sometimes Americanized to 'Ed Gagan' for record releases. Irish musical authorities describe him as 'possibly the most sought after accompanist of the era playing with a wide variety of musicians and singers.'

The family then moved into 40 Clark St, Yonkers in 1929. 

He appears to have struggled with alcoholism, at one point being hospitalized for a scalp laceration obtained while intoxicated. This probably contributed towards his early death at age 52.

Inez Gill (Vocalstyle)

 

Inez Gill

Born: 18 January 1892, Liberty, MS
Died:  20 January 1969, Kingston, NY

Inez Gill recorded classical and salon music for Vocalstyle in 1916-1917.

Born Dora Inez Gill, she was orphaned at an early age, her parents dying of typhoid fever within a month of each other. She was adopted by her grandparents, and trained at Cincinnati Conservatory and studied under Robert Casadesus in France.

Married John Wesley Carroll, a prominent artist, in 1917. In 1920 the couple were living in Manhattan, but relocated to Woodstock where her husband was to become famous for his art.

She remarried in 1939 to Chester H. Coggeshall,  a widowed musical comedy actor known professional as Houston Richards, and was employed at the Imperial Theatre, Rockefeller Plaza as of 1942. She continued her career, specializing in chamber music and becoming a well-known face at the Maverick Concerts in New York.

Her husband, who played alongside Ethel Merman, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Vivian Vance, and others died in 1965. She lived at Pearl St, Kingston, NY until her death in 1969.

John Martin (Gulbransen)

Born: 17 January 1879, Perry, KS
Died: 4 March 1929. Los Angeles, CA

Although not a roll artist himself, his name is familiar to roll collectors as tireless demonstrator of Gulbransen player pianos, his 'Martin Method' of teaching player piano owners how to create musical expression from their rolls being heavily publicised, including with the Gulbransen Instruction Roll series.

The son of a Wichita farmer, he worked for J. W. Jenkins Music Co in St. Joseph, Missouri and Kansas City, and then ran his own music store (Martin & Adams) in Wichita, Kansas from 1909. After selling his business in 1918 became involved with Gulbransen in about 1920, travelling nationally and to Australia demonstrating the Gulbransen player in both live demonstrations and radio. Gulbransen billed him as 'a businessman who worked too hard - his health failed - his physician suggested he take up the study of music during his convalescence', concealing the fact that he had a long career in music and implying that he was entirely ignorant before acquiring his Gulbransen!

In 1920 he relocated to Los Angeles and opened the Martin Music Co store, at 734 South Hill St.

He died 10 days after being struck by a car, causing a badly broken leg and other injuries. Thought to be on the road to recovery, he was felled by a sudden heart attack while listening to a radio broadcast of the presidential inauguration, shortly after telephoning his office. Universally mourned by the trade, he was survived by his three brothers, three sisters, and widow. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles.

A eulogy to John, published in the Western Music & Radio Trades Journal.

Michael Kammer (Melville Clark)

 

Kammer in 1946

B: 29 January 1888, Hungary
D: 7 January 1966, Broward, Florida

Michael Joseph Kammer is listed in his WW1 draft card and 1920 census as a music roll arranger for the Melville Clark Piano Co.

Married Carrie Herlugson in 1913 in Illinois. Obtained citizenship in 1914 and served in WW1.

By 1936 they had relocated to Kokomo, Indiana. By then he had changed career to become a Dental Technician, owning the Midwest Dental Laboratory. In 1947 he was elected president of the newly-formed Kokomo Community Orchestra. He was still active musically in his leisure time as late as 1950, being cellist for a quartet that performed socially and playing in the American Legion Band (principal horn). By 1959 he had retired to Pompano Beach, Florida.

In 1944, QRS/US roll artist and fellow Kokomo resident Harold Wansborough dedicated a composition, his suite 'Under Southern Skies', to Kammer and his wife, suggesting a relationship of some sort. 

Roy D. Lower (QRS)

 Roy Dunham Lower

Born: 15 July 1878, Osage, Iowa

Died: 30 March 1930, New York City

Early life, Osage Iowa - Son of a grocer/resteraunter.

1910 - married Maud Clendenning.

WW1 draft - Music Arranger for Melville Clark.

Died of double pneumonia. Buried Mt Hope, Chicago. Still working for QRS at time of death.

Organist at the Methodist Church of De Kalb.