The Vocalstyle Music Company of Cincinnati, Ohio was one of the foremost manufacturers of piano rolls.[1] Founded around 1906, they were the first company to conceive of the idea of printing song lyrics on the piano roll so they could be viewed and sung as the music played. They patented this idea and collected royalties from all other music roll companies that printed lyrics.

They had a huge stable of artists, and jazz legends Jelly Roll Morton,[2][3] Clarence Jones, and Luckey Roberts[4] were probably the most prominent of their visiting recording artists. Other prominent musicians who recorded for Vocalstyle include Amanda Randolph, (Mandy Randolph-The Yellow Dog Blues, by W. C. Handy in 1919, Vocalstyle roll # 11562)[5][6] who in later life became a well-known television actress, Art Gillham, and Ernest Ball.

They were purchased by the QRS company[7] in 1926, and ceased operations in 1928.

References

  1. ↑ "Vocalstyle piano roll seals and 1920 trade ad". Mechanical Music Digest. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "Vocalstyle Co. Completes "Jelly Roll" Morton Series". Music Trades. 16 June 1924. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. ↑ ""Jelly Roll" Morton's Series In Vocalstyle Lists". Music Trades. 7 June 1924. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  4. ↑ "Luckey Roberts Rolls". bluesrolls.com. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Search for "Randolph" at website's Piano Roll Artists Database". pianola.co.nz. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "MIDI file of Mandy Randolph-'Yellow Dog Blues'". pianola.co.nz. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2010. (RealPlayer)
  7. ↑ "Piano Rolls For Sale". QRS Music. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
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