Harry Anthony (October 29, 1870 – September 5, 1954) was an American tenor and pioneer recording artist. With James F. Harrison he made several recordings of religious music that were popular at the time. He was known as a solo artist, and also became a member of the American Quartet. He made records for most of the major recording companies of the day.

Biography

Anthony was born John Young in New York City. He used the pseudonym of Harry Anthony from the beginning of his recording career until 1912, when he began using his real name. Edison, however, continued to use the pseudonym on their releases, although their catalogs also gave his real name. He died in New York City at the age of 83.

Recording career

Harrison and Anthony

His first recording was a duet with James F. Harrison, a pseudonym for Frederick J. Wheeler, in 1905 on an Edison phonograph cylinder. "Harrison and Anthony" were subsequently paired together for numerous duets, usually specializing in sacred songs ( Billy Murray jokingly called them "The-Come-to-Jesus-Twins") or in sentimental ballads. Popular recordings for Edison included ''Excelsior'' and '' Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.'' The duet made their last phonograph recording for Edison in 1912, although they worked together again for the next couple of years making talking pictures for Edison. Harrison and Anthony also recorded for

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

, both cylinders and discs, starting in 1906. These U.S. Recordings were also issued on English Columbia and Regal. Their work for Columbia lasted until the beginning of the microphone era, when they made a single disc in 1926. Additionally they made cylinders for the U.S. Everlasting Records company from 1910–1912. They also recorded for the

Victor Talking Machine Company The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidia ...

, it is likely that their rendition of ''See the Pale Moon'', from 1910, was the duet's best-selling record for this company.

Solo career

As a solo artist, Anthony recorded for both Edison and produced several best sellers. On Edison, these were released on 2-minute cylinders, and included ''

Down Where the Silv’ry Mohawk Flows Down most often refers to: * Down, the relative direction opposed to up * Down (gridiron football), in American/Canadian football, a period when one play takes place * Down feather, a soft bird feather used in bedding and clothing * Downland, a ty ...

'', ''When the Mists Have Rolled Away'', ''Love Me and the World Is Mine'', and ''

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" is a song with words by Jessie Brown Pounds and music by John Sylvester Fearis, written in 1897. The song gained huge popularity when it was used in William McKinley's funeral. It was subsequently a staple at funera ...

'', all estimated to have been top-10 hits. Under his real name, John Young, he released several sides for Victor.''Discography of American Historical Recordings'', s.v. "John Young (vocalist : tenor vocal)," accessed October 6, 2015, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/talent/detail/47584/Young_John_vocalist_tenor_vocal.

As member of other groups

In 1910 Anthony was recorded as a member of the Edison Comic Opera Company, alongside fellow members Steve Porter, Edith Chapman, Edna Stearns, and Cornelia Marvin. He recorded duets with

Inez Barbour Inez Barbour Hadley (September 23, 1879 – January 8, 1971) was an American soprano. Though she was neither a composer nor a conductor, she was president of the National Association of American Composers and Conductors from 1937 to 1971. Earl ...

, two of which became best sellers: ''Alma'' and ''Love Never Dies'' in 1911 and 1912, respectively. On Edison cylinders he also recorded duets with Elizabeth Wheeler and Helen Clark. He performed in and managed the Criterion Quartet, who besides Anthony included Donald Chalmers, George W. Reardon, and Horatio Rench. He was a member of Victor’s Orpheus Quartet. In 1918 he replaced

John Bieling John H. Bieling (March 15, 1869 – March 30, 1948) was an American tenor singer who was a pioneer recording artist in the early years of the twentieth century. He featured on thousands of recordings, especially as a member of The Haydn Quarte ...

in the American Quartet. After 1918 he made numerous duets with several of Victor’s established artists such as Reinald Werrenrath.

References

External links

John Young at DHAR (Discography of American Historical Recordings)
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Anthony, Harry 1870 births 1954 deaths Pioneer recording artists Singers from New York City Columbia Records artists Victor Records artists Edison Records artists