Will Oakland
Will Oakland (January 15, 1880–May 15, 1956) was an American countertenor famed for his exceptionally high vocal range. He was born Herman Hinrichs in Jersey City, New Jersey, to German-American immigrant parents. Oakland began his musical career after leaving the United States Army in 1905, joining Lew Dockstader's minstrels in Rochester, New York. He began recording for Edison Records in 1908, soon after Richard Jose's retirement. In addition to appearing as a solo performer, Oakland recorded duets with Billy Murray, sometimes singing the female part in love songs. He often sang woeful, sentimental songs that contrasted with Murray's usually upbeat repertoire. From 1912 to 1914 Oakland recorded in the Heidelberg Quintet, joining the members of the American Quartet. He recorded the song "As I sat upon my dear old mother's knee" by Joseph P. Skelly. |
Birth and Death Data: Born January 15, 1880, Died May 15, 1956
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1909 - 1929
Roles Represented in DAHR: countertenor vocal, lyricist, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 51-75 of 123 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-14997 | 10-in. | 6/24/1914 | Dear love days | Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell ; Will Oakland | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-14998 | 10-in. | 6/24/1914 | Everything reminds me of that old sweetheart of mine | Henry Burr ; Albert Campbell ; Will Oakland | Male vocal trio, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15015 | 10-in. | 6/26/1914 | Don't go away | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15017 | 10-in. | 6/26/1914 | Roll them cotton bales | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15042 | 10-in. | 7/6/1914 | In the town where I was born | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15043 | 10-in. | 7/6/1914 | Ma pickaninny babe | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15044 | 10-in. | 7/6/1914 | Just for to-night | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15046 | 10-in. | 7/7/1914 | Belle Brandon | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-15047 | 10-in. | 7/7/1914 | When you're a long, long way from home | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-16071 | 10-in. | 6/4/1915 | Old time song medley | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-16075 | 10-in. | 6/4/1915 | When it's moonlight in Mayo | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-17144 | 10-in. | 2/11/1916 | Mother's old sweet lullaby | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-17145 | 10-in. | 2/11/1916 | Norah Acushla | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-17239 | 10-in. | 3/1/1916 | Oh promise me (That you'll come back to Alabam') | Billy Murray ; Will Oakland | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-18779 | 10-in. | 12/8/1916 | Ireland, my Ireland | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | lyricist, vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | [Trial 1922-08-07-01] | Not documented | 8/7/1922 | Silhouette | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with piano | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19133 | 10-in. | 11/29/1910 | I love the name of Mary | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19134 | 10-in. | 11/29/1910 | The longest way round is the sweetest way home | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19178 | 10-in. | 12/30/1910 | Good night, beloved, good night | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19179 | 10-in. | 12/30/1910 | I'll change the thorns to roses | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19234 | 10-in. | 2/10/1911 | When the swallows homeward fly | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19235 | 10-in. | 2/10/1911 | Poverty's tears ebb and flow | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19255 | 10-in. | 3/9/1911 | The lass from the county Mayo | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19256 | 10-in. | 3/9/1911 | You can't make me stop loving you | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Columbia | 19269 | 10-in. | 4/7/1911 | Only a pansy blossom | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oakland, Will," accessed October 1, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
Oakland, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
"Oakland, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 October 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Oakland, Will, 1883-1956 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077352
Wikidata: Will Oakland - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8002992
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.