James Sharpe (1877–1943), also known as Olly Oakley, [1] was a British banjo player and composer. He was considered a prominent zither-banjo player in England. [2] [3] [4] His music made up a part of early banjo recordings on the phonograph, [5] [6] and during his life, he became "the most widely recorded English banjoist". [2] Other than his performing name of Olly Oakley, he alternately recorded under the pseudonyms Fred Turner, Signor Cetra, Jack Sherwood, Mr F Curtis, Frank Forrester, and Tim Holes. [7]
James Sharpe was born in Birmingham, England [8] in 1877. [2] He started to play the banjo around age 12 after hearing the Bohee Brothers' music. [2] Sharpe's music was influenced by minstrel songs, with a style of playing that was similar to the Bohee Brothers'. [9] He played ragtime music, [7] sentimental songs and original pieces. [9]
From the late 1890s to the 1930s, Sharpe made hundreds of recordings [2] on various labels and performed at British music halls. [10] During the 1910s, his compositions for banjo were played at various concert programs in England. [2] In 1915, he toured South Africa, performing on the banjo. [11]
He made recordings including with Pathé and was filmed on Phonofilm.[ citation needed]
Sharpe died in 1943. [2]
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James Sharpe (1877–1943), also known as Olly Oakley, [1] was a British banjo player and composer. He was considered a prominent zither-banjo player in England. [2] [3] [4] His music made up a part of early banjo recordings on the phonograph, [5] [6] and during his life, he became "the most widely recorded English banjoist". [2] Other than his performing name of Olly Oakley, he alternately recorded under the pseudonyms Fred Turner, Signor Cetra, Jack Sherwood, Mr F Curtis, Frank Forrester, and Tim Holes. [7]
James Sharpe was born in Birmingham, England [8] in 1877. [2] He started to play the banjo around age 12 after hearing the Bohee Brothers' music. [2] Sharpe's music was influenced by minstrel songs, with a style of playing that was similar to the Bohee Brothers'. [9] He played ragtime music, [7] sentimental songs and original pieces. [9]
From the late 1890s to the 1930s, Sharpe made hundreds of recordings [2] on various labels and performed at British music halls. [10] During the 1910s, his compositions for banjo were played at various concert programs in England. [2] In 1915, he toured South Africa, performing on the banjo. [11]
He made recordings including with Pathé and was filmed on Phonofilm.[ citation needed]
Sharpe died in 1943. [2]
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cite web}}
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has generic name (
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cite journal}}
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