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 1-25 of 123 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | B-6822 | 10-in. | 2/19/1909 | When you and I were young, Maggie | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-6823 | 10-in. | 2/19/1909 | Silver threads among the gold | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-6870 | 10-in. | 3/10/1909 | When the autumn moon is creeping thro' the woodlands | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-6871 | 10-in. | 3/10/1909 | When the winter days are over | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-6872 | 10-in. | 3/10/1909 | The longest way round is the shortest way home | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8146 | 10-in. | 8/13/1909 | I'm tired of living without you | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8147 | 10-in. | 8/13/1909 | White wings | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8919 | 10-in. | 5/6/1910 | My beautiful Irish maid | Haydn Quartet ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quartet and male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8920 | 10-in. | 5/6/1910 | Only a pansy blossom | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8921 | 10-in. | 5/6/1910 | My wild Irish rose | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-8922 | 10-in. | 5/6/1910 | The story of the rose | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9161 | 10-in. | 7/12/1910 | In the gloaming | American Quartet ; Will Oakland | Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9162 | 10-in. | 7/12/1910 | Who will care for Mother now? | American Quartet ; Will Oakland | Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9163 | 10-in. | 7/12/1910 | Wait till the clouds roll by | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9164 | 10-in. | 7/12/1910 | Mack's lullaby | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | C-9165 | 12-in. | 7/12/1910 | When the robins nest again | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9650 | 10-in. | 11/15/1910 | Mother Machree | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9651 | 10-in. | 11/15/1910 | Eileen Allanna | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-9652 | 10-in. | 11/15/1910 | The star, the rose and the dream | Will Oakland | Male vocal solo, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-11875 | 10-in. | 4/15/1912 | Under the love tree | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal solo and chorus, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-11876 | 10-in. | 4/15/1912 | I want to love you while the music's playing | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-12050 | 10-in. | 5/28/1912 | At the club | American Quartet ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-12085 | 10-in. | 6/7/1912 | Way down south | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, with orchestra | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-12086 | 10-in. | 6/7/1912 | Emmet's lullaby | Heidelberg Quintette ; Will Oakland | Male vocal quintet, unaccompanied | vocalist, countertenor vocal | |
Victor | B-12180 | 10-in. | 7/11/1912 | On a beautiful night with a beautiful girl | Heidelberg Quintette | Male vocal quintet, unaccompanied | vocalist, countertenor vocal |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Oakland, Will," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
Oakland, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110630.
"Oakland, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 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
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