Arthur Collins: King of Ragtime

Arthur Collins

Arthur Collins is known as one of the most prolific recording artists of the acoustic era. Along with the banjoist Ossman, Arthur Collins is the most signicant of early recorded ragtime performers. At a time when "coon songs" were nearly synonymous with ragtime, the songs Collins sang were among the most popular.

Collins sang such classics as "When Uncle Joe Plays a Rag on His Old Banjo" (with Ossman) and "You're Talking Rag-Time" „ the latter a rare Irving Berliner record from 1900. Collins also sang "Alexander's Ragtime Band", (Berlins first published work) and "The Preacher and the Bear" are two of his many hits and perhaps his best known.

It is documented that Collins is the first to have a recording with the word "ragtime" in the title. After Byron G, Harlan joined Edison in about 1900, the great singing team of Collins and Harlan started. His career lasted until 1926.

Along with the banjoist Ossman, Arthur Collins is probably the most signicant of early recorded ragtime performers. At a time when "coon songs" were nearly synonymous with ragtime, the songs Collins sang were most popular, such as "When Uncle Joe Plays a Rag on His Old Banjo" (with Ossman) and "You're Talking Rag-Time" &ndash the latter a rare Berliner record from 1900.

BOIGRAPHICAL SOURCES:*

*All information from www.arthurcollins.com with permission

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