A.K.A. - The Wacky World of Pseudonyms 
by Charles A. Hooey

What's in a name? Well, quite a lot actually, in terms of money, especially if you happened to be a singer in the early part of the last century. Here's how it worked.
 
The phonograph had just emerged as a viable form of home entertainment so manufacturers were scrambling for something to play on their new-fangled machines. Singers were soon a popular item. When one would step forward who had done well in oratorio or opera, he or she would be signed up to commit an aria to wax. This was fine and the money was welcome, but the work was sparse. One answer would be to approach another company and to avoid contractual problems, sign up using a different name. Or the original employer might say: "You know we’d pay you extra if you would record a popular ballad, something from musical comedy or a few hymns. You would have to disguise yourself though so as not to offend your more sophisticated fans. We'll attribute your singing to a mythical person and you can even choose your own alternate."

Not everyone took to using a false name but a surprising number did. In addition to a few classically trained singers, performers from the music hall and other aspects of music became involved with Australian bass-baritone Peter Dawson the undisputed king of aliases. Just how many names Peter used is open to conjecture; one even wonders if he knew who he was on any given recording day!
 
Dawson began using pseudonyms when he made cylinders as "Leonard Dawson" before switching to "James Osbourne" for early bass numbers. He must have had most fun as "Will Strong" for this was his impersonation of the great Scot entertainer, Harry Lauder. He would don a kilt and fool many a veteran listener. When told of these shenanigans, Lauder would not believe it was Dawson. In addition to many live performances, "Will" made 60 records as his Scottish self.
 
During The Great war, everyone needed lighter music, especially lively ditties from popular musicals. A splendid Welsh soprano named Bessie Jones who had sung with Caruso at Covent Garden became "Louise Leigh" when she joined the equally talented English soprano Violet Essex, known as "Vera Desmond", to record lighter music. Under her own name Violet recorded Arditi's "Il bacio" and Musetta's Waltz from La Boheme and dazzled in Gilbert and Sullivan operas that HMV would begin to record late in the war. As “Vera” she recorded current tunes such as Dorothy Forster's "Take me to flowerland with you" as well as English songs of the ages "Where the bee sucks" by Arne and "Orpheus with his lute" by Sullivan. “Louise” recorded a pair of duets from The Maid of the Mountains with Peter Dawson and others with "Walter Jefferies" (George Baker) and "Eric Courtland" (Ernest Pike). Both Baker and Pike, like Dawson, became prolific recorders who resorted to the disguise game often. Sometimes, to add to the confusion, more than one singer would utilize the same pseudonym.

Bessie Jones also recorded a duet with tenor Hubert Eisdell, "The Wells of Sleep" by Norton. Eisdell, who made a series of marvelous duet records with Dora Labbette, avoided pseudonyms for the most part but he did become "Michael Mortimer" to record four sides. In doing so, he utilized the first name of his son and his own middle name. As "Walter Adams”, he also recorded a comic duet with Labbette who became “Rosa Lynn” for the occasion. Of course the fabulous Dora would later achieve fame as “Lisa Perli” when she sang opera.
 
Another Welsh soprano who became a key figure in the world of pseudonyms was Eleanor Jones-Hudson, another busy recorder. She began in 1905 and by the time she finished, soon after losing her husband Eli Hudson in the war, she had accumulated over 500 discs. Her legacy reveals the full musical fabric of Britain at the time: opera, oratorio, songs, ballads, religious music and musical gems from the Victorian and Edwardian ages. She made records as a member of many vocal groups, usually with Ernest Pike, Peter Dawson, Stanley Kirkby and Harold Wilde. If you acquired a record by “Madame Deering,” “Madame Corona,” or “Marion Jerome,” when you got home you were hearing Eleanor Jones-Hudson.
 
So, as a determined record collector, the next time you are browsing through a pile of used discs at a local Odds and Ends shop or county fair, or whatever, don’t be discouraged if you spot an unknown performer listed, just check the list of pseudonyms that follows and possibly you’ll walk away with a treasure.
 
This fascinating activity tapered off in the mid 1920s. Although the subject could easily fill the pages of a book, here we offer the tip of the iceberg with emphasis on a few well-known singers as well as one or two lesser lights. Of course there is a lot of different opinions on this subject, so if I am incorrect on certain points, believe me that is to be expected!
 
Known conflicts:
* in dispute whether this is Burke.
** used first by Jones-Hudson, then by Bessie Jones.
*** used by Parry Jones & Ernest Pike or both.
 
MALE ARTISTS  
JOHN ADAMS, tenor
-T. Evison
 
GEORGE BAKER, bass-baritone 

-Harold Barnes Harold Black - Jumbo Arthur C. Brookes Victor Conway - Decca Gwyn Ellis Arthur George Uncle George - Pathé

George Guest George Harris - Winner Cyril Howard - Coliseum Walter Jefferies - HMV Leslie Scott - Vocalion Jack Sherwood - Ariel Harry Talbot

 

THORPE BATES, baritone - Beverley Curtis DAVID BRAZELL, baritone -David Jones - Zono in Welsh -Llewellyn Williams   ROBERT BURNETT, bass - Robert Campbell - Zono

TOM BURKE, tenor -Ted Feeny Pat Nolan - Metropole Pat (or John) O'Grady* - Parl/Ariel Terry O'Neill - Edison Bell Pat O'Sullivan - Piccadilly Brian Thomas - Columbia

 
ROBERT CARR, bass

-Harry Durrant Robert Durrant Bobbie Gray - Regal 1927 Bobby Gray Ernest Gray - Edison Bell - Winner 1912

George Lacey - Tower Eric Lawrence - Imperial Robert Oswald George Scott - Aco Harry Trevor Arthur Vincent - Coliseum & Guardsman

 

SYDNEY COLTHAM, tenor -Frank Chamberlain - Piccadilly Ivor Tayelor - Ariel

EDGAR COYLE, baritone -Arthur Reeves - Regal Harold Curtis George Preston Gram

 
TUDOR DAVIES, tenor

-Stanley Aldridge - Meloto Lionel Cornish - Curry's Llewellyn Evans - Coliseum Harry George - Tower Edgar Langham - 12" Scala (?) Stanley Leyland - Tower

J. McCarthy - Coliseum Percy St. Albyn - Coliseum Fred Stanley - Aco, Guardsman H. Spencer Watts - Scala Sidney Young - Tower

 
PETER DAWSON, bass-baritone
(Used many aliases to record, and many others when composing songs)
As singer:

-Robin Adair C. Adams Robert Baxter James Bell Percy Clifton Percy Clifford Percy Dalton Frank Danby Will Danby -cylinder Leonard Dawson -Edison Cyl Fred Davies Maurice Evans -Ariel Terson George -Gram Victor Graham -Gram Hector Grant

George Graves Charles Handy - HMV Hector McDonald Mr. Miles LLewellyn Morgan - HMV James Osbourne David Peters Sydney Reeves - HMV Charles Stander Will Strong Henry Tucker - HMV Arthur Walpole George Welsh Walter Wentworth Robert Woodville

 
DAWSON as composer: 

Peter Allison Geoffrey Baxter Evelyn Byrd Arnold Flint J. P. McCall

Allison Miller Gilbert Mundy Denton Toms Charles Weber

 
 

HARRY DEARTH, basso -Philip Cummings   JAMIESON DODDS, baritone -Frank Halliday Robert Hardie - Guardsman Dennis Ormsby

EMILIO DE GOGORZA, baritone -Carlos Francisco - Victor Sig. E Francisco - Victor Edward Franklin - Zon-o-phone US Herbert Goddard - Victor

 

ROBERT EASTON, basso -Robert Merlyn - Regal Robert Raymond - Columbia Graham Stewart - Broadcast 12

HUBERT EISDELL, tenor -Walter Adams Michael Mortimer

 
 
 

JOSEPH FARRINGTON, basso -Fred Collins - Piccadilly Martin Howard - Piccadilly John Wilkinson - Piccadilly   STEWART GARDNER, baritone -Arthur C. Brooke -Clarence Franklin -Thomas Franklin -Thomas Lane -Guy Merritt

WALTER GLYNNE, tenor -Gwynne Ellis (possibly his real name)   JOHN GOSS, baritone -Rufus John - New Leader   ARTHUR GROVER, baritone -George Arthur   BARRINGTON HOOPER, tenor -Everton Harvey - Ariel Petty King - Regal

 

ROBERT HOWE, basso -Maurice Benson Arthur T. Brookes Robert Kinnear - Imperial Alfred Newman Tom Piper - Savanna Wilfred Shepherd Robin Stone - Victory Howard Thompson Kenneth Walters Walter Wilmott - Cinch Harold Wood - Regal

DAN JONES, tenor -Arthur Saunders Ivor Evans   HIRWEN JONES, tenor -Dan Llewellyn Llewellyn Williams   PARRY JONES, tenor -Roland Oliver - Regal Herbert Perry*** Lloyd Thomas

 

THOMAS JACKSON, baritone - William Thomas - Regal   TOM KINNIBURGH, basso -Thomas Currie Robert Hardie - Guardsman Donald Lewis - Victory John Thorpe - Imperial   GIUSEPPE LENGHI-CELLINI, tenor - Sig. Faroli - Artiphon JOHN McCORMACK, tenor John O’Reilly - Zono   WALTER MIDGLEY, tenor -Michael Eastley   BROWNING MUMMERY, tenor -George Saunders   GERALD O’BRIEN, tenor - Jack Desmond

"STANLEY KIRKBY," baritone (Real Name: James Baker) -Frank Ashton Gram. Harry Carlton Arthur Cecil George Claff Cobbett & Walker (w. E. Pike) Fred Cooper George Daly Jim Donovan - Zono Rupert Hazell Charles Holland - Columbia/Zono Sam Ireland Murray Johnson - HMV Charles Lester Mike Magee Bert Marsden - Twin Joe Townson Frank Miller - Empire Walter Miller - Zonophone Frank Williams

 

 

GRIFFITHS PERCY, bass - Charles Crisp Zono Albert Goodwin   FOSTER RICHARDSON, basso -Stephen Arthur - Homochord Reginald Barton - Homochord James Brennan Eric Chandler - Sterno Percy Dalton - Ariel Dick Denton - Zono Derek Foster Franklyn Gray - Filmaphone Richard Kenneth Dan McClintock - Eclipse Howard Roberts - Homochord Anthony Somers - Sterno Bernard Wallace - Sterno

ERNEST PIKE, tenor -Arthur Adams Arthur Aldridge -Zono Arthur Brett Cobbett w. Walker (S. Kirkby) Allan Dale -Zono Eric Courtland HMV Arthur Edwardes - Zonophone Edgar Froome - Ariel Arthur Gray Arthur Grey Jack Henty Sam Hovey Billy Murray Bernard Moss Charles Nelson Herbert Payne - Twin/Zonophone Richard Pembroke - HMV Herbert Perry *** J. Saunders

 

PHILIP RITTE, tenor - Harold Harmsworth - Scala DALE SMITH, baritone - Gerald Phillips - Piccadilly   HORACE STEVENS, baritone -Gerrard Maine Stephen Langley   HERBERT TEALE, tenor - Jay Laurier   HERBERT THORPE, tenor -Arthur Wilson	"JOHN THORNE," baritone (Real Name: Thomas Greenhalgh) -Gilbert Austin Marcus Browning Billy Desmond -Aco/Broadcast Tom Gordon Robert Groves Robert Gwynne - Victory Chris Hall L. Lawrence - Coliseum Frank Nicholls - Coliseum "Pavement Artist" Gerald Scott - Actuelle David Shepherd - Guardsman Frank Thomas Fred Thomas - Coliseum Jack Vaughan - World echo Arthur Vivian
FRANK TITTERTON. tenor -Norton Collyer - Decca Guy Marshall - Broadcast Francesco Vada Francesco Vado John Howard - Mayfair   ALAN TURNER, baritone Eldred Walker   RICHARD WATSON, basso -Harold Foster - Decca	HAROLD WILDE, tenor -David Boyd -Zono Horatio Germaine Ivor Lewis - Cinch William Stewart Herbert Wilde - Pathé   EVAN WILLIAMS, tenor -William T. Evans - G & T William T. Evans - HMV Wllliam T. Evans - Victor
	HAROLD WILLIAMS, bass-baritone -Geoffrey Spencer - Regal

 
 
FEMALE ARTISTS 

PERCEVAL ALLEN, soprano - Blanche Ross - Zono   JESSIE BROUGHTON, contralto -Agnes Preston Madame(e) Truman - Arrow   EDITH CLEGG, mezzo Alice Winslow   ESTHER COLEMAN, mezzo -Annette Crosby   ELIZABETH DEWS, mezzo -Mary Evans   VIOLET ESSEX, soprano -Vera Desmond   CARRIE HERWIN, contralto -Joan Murray - Regal   RUBY HEYLE, contralto - Blanche Dare   DORA LABBETTE, soprano -Rosa Lynn Lisa Perli

BESSIE JONES. soprano -Louise Brooks Jessie Buckland Doris Cowan Madame Deering** Evelyn Holmes** Adele Leigh Louise Leigh - HMV 1915-1922 Aimee Maxwell Vera Reynolds Blanche Young   ELEANOR JONES-HUDSON, soprano -Madge Breese Kitty Collins Madame Corona Madame Deering** Madame Dews Mary Evans Gertrude Gibson Sybil Grey - Ariel Evelyn Holmes ** Marion Jerome HMV 1912 Miss Jolly May Loveday Eleanor Jones (her maiden name) Madge St. Clair Florence Saville Alvena Yarrow HMV/Zonophone

  

VIOLET MOUNT, soprano L’Incognita Violetta Viamonti   VIOLET OPPENSHAW, contralto - Eleanor Wishaite - Ariel Olive Burton   DENISE ORME, soprano Sybil Gray May Loveday	MARY O'ROURKE, soprano (or Mary Lethbridge) -Master Joe Petersen Wilfred Eaton - Eclipse Michael Dawney - Eclipse Jimmy Fletcher - Crown ANNIE REES, soprano -Mabel Lee - Columbia   GWLADYS ROBERTS, soprano -Blodwen Morgan - Zono
LILLIAN STILES-ALLEN, soprano -Linda Hinde - Radio   EDNA THORNTON, contralto -Madame Violetta - HMV   CARRIE TUBB, soprano -Dorothy Douglas May Browne -Gram Florence Smith - Zono	FLORENCE VENNING -Ada Florence Ada Smithson - Jumbo   NELLIE WALKER, contralto -Sadie Haye Ruby Harrison   PALGRAVE TURNER, contralto - Madge Walker

 
Sources: “THE HISTORIC RECORD & AV Collector” was a fascinating publication put out for a number of years by John R. Wrigley of Sheffield. It is now defunct but between 1992 and 1995, Jack presented lists of those who used pseudonyms. If interested, look for issues Nos, 24, 25, 27, 28 and 36 at your library. In addition to this source, I appreciate the assistance of Peter Cliffe, Alan Kelly, Mike Langridge, Graham Oakes, John Walker and other kind folk in Britain.