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Billy Murray
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Billy Murray (25 May 1877 - 17 August 1954) was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century. While he received star billings on Vaudeville, he was best known for his prolific work in the recording studio, making records for almost every record label of the era. He was probably the best selling recording artist of the first quarter of the 20th century.
He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation’s major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, The Haydn Quartet, The Premier Quartet, and The American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
He was born as William Thomas Murray in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of immigrants from Ireland. He became fascinated with the theater and joined a traveling vaudeville troupe in 1893. He also performed in minstrel shows early in his career. He made his first recordings for a local phonograph cylinder company in San Francisco, California in 1897. He started recording regularly in the New York City and New Jersey area in 1903, when the nation’s major record companies as well as the Tin Pan Alley music industry were concentrated there.
In 1906 he waxed the first of his popular duets with Ada Jones. He also performed with Aileen Stanley, The Haydn Quartet, The Premier Quartet, and The American Quartet (the latter two actually being the same group), in addition to his solo work.
He had a strong tenor voice with excellent enunciation and a more conversational delivery than common with bel canto singers of the era. On comic songs he often deliberately sang slightly flat, which he felt helped the comic effect.
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Ridikul wrote:
fuck bill murray
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Pentfixion wrote:
Billy Murray is a dark and satanic individual.
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Retro_Saiyan wrote:
BTW, lihei, this is another Billy Murray. There is also a baseball player, and a box who also have the same name. Wow, 4 notable people with the same name!
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Retro_Saiyan wrote:
Wtf how on earth is "Alexander's Ragtime Band " satanic?
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lihei wrote:
The actor/comedian?
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JakobVirgil wrote:
don't listen to retro_saiyan. He is a well-known liar. Billy completely satanic. -Jake
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Retro_Saiyan wrote:
wtf is going on with the tags? Really, he isn't "black metal’, heck, that genre hadn't even been invented 20 years after he died. He's basically the "Weird Al" of his time, although a bit more serious.
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wonder_al wrote:
\o/
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ninthspectacle and dom316 added Billy Murray to their libraries. last week
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Brandschatzen uploaded 1917 to Billy Murray’s images. May 2009
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Brandschatzen linked Billy Murray to 1917. May 2009
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Brandschatzen linked Billy Murray to 1912. May 2009
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Brandschatzen linked Billy Murray to 1900s. May 2009
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Brandschatzen tagged Billy Murray with real oldies and gramophone. May 2009
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volcano_ added Billy Murray to volcano_’s library. May 2009
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VickyBN1 connected Billy Murray to the group The Orient Express. May 2009
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