William Seneca Mygrant (1862-1937)  Notice the mis-print of his last name on the poster! Mygrant was a professional cornet soloist and was a member of various bands including the 69th. Regimental Band of Brooklyn.  the Lost Chord (c.a. 1901) Pretty Peggy…

Berliner record from 1898.  William (Will) Bates’ autograph on record. Bates was a cornetist in Gilmore’s Band and played for a period of time with the Sousa Band, however, he wasn’t a Sousa soloist. Old Folk’s Polka (c.a. 1898) Let ‘Em All Come Medley…

Sousa’s great cornetists H.L. Clarke, Walter Rogers, and Herman Bellstedt Walter B. Rogers  Walter B. Rogers was one of the finest cornetists of his era.  He was born in Indiana in 1865 and died in 1939.  He was a great friend of Herbert Clarke and they…

Waino Kauppi was cornet soloist with the famous Goldman Band in the mid 1920’s.  He used a Conn Victor Cornet. One a Beautiful Summer Night Honeysuckle

Vincent Buono 1875-1959 Vincent Buono was one of the most versatile brass players of his day. While he did not rank with the great cornet soloists, he was a great technician and was indeed a very accomplished cornet and trumpet player. He was first chair for Charles…

Pietro Capodiferro (1882-1953) Pietro Capodiferro was a great Italian/American cornetist/trumpeter.  Among other engagements, he was principal trumpet for the Metropolitan Orchestra The Birthday of a King (c.a. 1917) Souvenir of Switzerland (c.a. 1920) Pyramids…

William Paris Chambers William Paris Chambers was born in 1857 and died in Pennsylvania in 1913. Chambers wrote many marches and had a very high register, double high C and beyond.  He was a brass teacher and operated a C.G. Conn store in New York City.  He…

Otto Mesloh (1867-1923) Mesloh was one of the cornetists with the Sousa Band in 1898. In 1899, he became the cornet soloist with the Sousa Band.  After Sousa, Mesloh was in the “Elite Four”, considered to be one of the best musical Vaudeville teams ever….

Miss Marie McNeil (1866-?) Marie McNeil toured the country in 1877 with her brothers known as the McNeil Family Concert Co.  In 1878, she partnered up with Anton Knoll and they became a very successful recording and touring duet. Jigs and Reels

M. Felice Dann Maybelle Felice Dann recorded for Edison Records from 1919 through 1923.  The Dann Trio toured the country promoting Edison Records.  She was born around 1900 and died in 1987. The Lost Chord (c.a. 1919) Oh Dry Those Tears (c.a….

Leonard Bingley Smith (1915-2002) Lenny (as he was called) attended the Ernest Williams School of Music in the state of New York.  He served in the Navy, and while he was in Long Beach, California, Smith played a cornet solo for Herbert L. Clarke when Clarke was…

Keith House (1926-2005)   Keith’s brass teacher was Rafael Mendez (pictured in photo on right with Keith).  Keith House (my trumpet mentor) was cornet soloist with the Unity Band in Lees Summit, MO.  Keith had 11 cornet solos memorized.  He was utility trumpet player…

Jules Levy was born in England in 1838 and died in Chicago 1903.  Jules Levy proclaimed himself as the “World’s greatest Cornetist.”  In fact, announcers stated this on some of his recordings, probably at Levy’s insistence.   He gave concerts all…

John Hazel (1865-1948) John Hazel was one of the most technically proficient cornetists of his generation.  Hazel played solos all over the United States.  In 1888, Hazel befriended W. F. Cody, wrote a march dedicated to Hon. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) named…

James (Jimmy) Francis Burke (1923-1981) Burke studied with Del Staigers.  Burke had no use of his right hand and played the cornet with only the left hand on a specially built cornet built by King.  Burke at some point switched to a Buscher cornet.  He…

The Bride of the Waves (c.a. 1934) Sounds from the Hudson (c.a. 1934) Silver Shower (c.a. 1934) Showers of Gold (c.a. 1930) Lucille (c.a. 1934) Facilita (c.a. 1934) Columbine (c.a. 1935) Cleopatra Polka (c.a. 1932) Bird of Love Divine (c.a. 1930) Barber of Seville…

Herbert Lincoln Clarke (1867-1945) I am reluctant to write about someone as well known as “America’s Premier Cornet Soloist”.  Clarke was probably the most popular cornetist in the music world, with the possible exception of Jules Levy.  He is known for his cornet…

The Sweetist Story Ever Told (c.a. 1897) Polka Brilliant (c.a. 1898) O-Promise Me (c.a. 1897) Blue Bells of Scotland (c.a. 1898)

Gustav (Gus) Heim 1879-1933 In 1904, Gus was well known as a trumpet soloist at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Gus played a Holton “Revelation” trumpet. He was also a soloist in the Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit and Cleveland Orchestras.  (Picture…

George Swift (1911-1985) Swift was Mendez’s favorite trumpet player. He played a small bore Olds trumpet.  He was soloist with the Jack Hylton orchestra from 1935-1939.  He played with Mantovani’s orchestra in the 1950’s and his favorite players were Bunny…

Ernst Albert Couturier (1869-1950) Couturier had an unusually high register.  He could play 6 octaves.  He was offered a contract with Sousa to play solos, but Frank Holton asked him to demonstrate cornets for the Holton Company. Unfortunately, there are no…

Ernest “Ernie” Pechin (1891-1946) Pechin played in Kryl’s Band as assistant soloist.  Pechin studied briefly with Herbert L. Clarke and became Clark’s assistant soloist in the Sousa Band. Pechin was also with the Chicago Theater Symphony Orchestra and with…

Emile Keneke He was born in Germany in 1866 and died in New Jersey in 1930.  (Bierley) Keneke was Cornetist with Pryor’s Band and cornet Soloist with Sousa’s Band for 5 years. He recorded many cornet duets with Herbert L. Clarke The Rosary Tell Me Pretty Maiden…

Edwin Firth (1888-1918) Edwin Firth was an outstanding British cornetist, landing a job at 20 as principal cornetist with the Famous Foden’s Brass Band in England. He volunteered and was killed in World War I in 1918. Pandora Cleopatra Polka (c.a….

Edna White 1892-1992 (Picture 1904) Edna White was a child prodigy and played her first cornet solo at Carnegie Hall in 1901 at age nine.  In her teen years, her teacher urged her to switch from cornet to trumpet. (personal interview) When You an Were Young…

Leggett at Kneller Hall in London. Sergeant Charles Leggett was cornet soloist of the H.M Scots Guards band.  He was also a cornet teacher at Kneller Hall in London.  He was the favorite cornetist of King Edward VII.  The  King’s favorite cornet…

Chuck Erwin was one of the great cornetists who went directly from high school in Indiana straight into the Marine Band as cornet soloist and later as assistant director. After retirement, he had a big band in Washington, D.C. and was always in demand. (Personal…

Bohumir Kryl (1875-1961) In my humble opinion, Kryl was one of the most proficient cornetists of his time.  To get the full scope of his mastery, please visit Archeophone Records site and purchase the Kryl Cd for $14.  Kryl was cornet soloist with the Sousa…

(1869-1959) Bert Brown gained a national reputation as a great “first chair” cornetist.  He played with Arthur Pryor’s Band and the Sousa Band and he was also a cornet soloist along with Pryor and Sousa. (Bridges) To Have To Hold To Love (c.a. 1930)

Arthur S. Whitcomb (?-1950) Mr. Whitcomb was born in England and played with the Coldstream Guards Band. He came to the United States in 1904 with the Coldstream Guards Band.  He did not return to England, instead he went to Canada to play with the Kilties Band…

Arthur Laycock (1887-1929) Mr. Laycock was born in England and played in several brass bands as 1st. cornetist.  His biggest success came when he was appointed principal of the famous St. Hilda’s Colliery Band.  The Triplet (c.a. Unknown) The Amateur (c.a….

Anton Knoll (1855-?) In 1885, he shared solo honors with Walter Rogers with Cappa’s Band and became famous with his partner, Marie McNeil, recording and touring all over the United States. (Bridges). Old Folks at Home (c.a. 1897)

Allessandro (Americanized to Alexander) Liberati (1847-1927) He proclaimed to be better than Jules Levy.  He said “I’m not his rival, but have the ability to teach him!”. Remembrance of Switzerland (c.a. 1902) Pyramids Polka (c.a. 1902) Facilita (c.a….

Alice Raymond was a touring cornet soloist in the 1890’s and early 1900’s.  She was billed as the “World’s Greatest Lady Cornetist”.  She also played in the Sousa Band along with Helen May Butler  (Schwartz) (Bierley) The Swiss Polka (c.a. 1899) Strauss Lullaby Love…

Prismatic Polka (c.a. 1899) Pretty Violets (c.a. 1899) Commodore Polka (c.a. 1900)