Art Gillham

• Illustration — The label of the first Western Electric recording. • Illustration — First Electrical recording master to be released. In October 1924, Gillham signed a contract with Columbia Records as an exclusive artist. When Columbia obtained rights to record using the new Western Electric recording system, Gillham was asked by Columbia to assist with the electric recording because of his use of microphones on radio. (Walsh, Hobbies Magazine and recorded interview) On February 25–27, 1925 Art recorded seven electrical masters, six of which were released. (Brian Rust The Columbia Master Book Discography, Vol. III, p 19-20) Columbia began using the new electrical process with its other artists beginning on February 27, 1925. The first electrical master was 140125, "You May Be Lonesome" released on Columbia 328-D, the first issue being on Columbia's "flag" label prior to the change to the black label. Victor began using the electrical process in March 1925. Gillham was a popular artist with Columbia from 1924 through 1931. His 130 recordings included "Angry", "I'm Confessing", "Shine On, Harvest Moon", "I'd Climb the Highest Mountain", "Cecilia", "I'm Waiting for Ships That Never Come In", "Thinking", and "Tenderly". Most of his recordings were vocals with his piano accompaniment. Some recordings included small groups which included Red Nichols, Benny Goodman, Miff Mole, Jimmy Dorsey and others. • Illustration — Lobby display for Art Gillham records and piano rolls. Being a tall thin man with thick wavy hair, he created an image of himself on radio and records as an old fat bald man who was always having trouble with women and thus sang "sob songs", and a folio was published "Art Gillham's Sob Songs" (Triangle Music). His primary competitors were Gene Austin, Jack Little, Cliff Edwards and Jack Smith. Jack Smith began recording for Victor in the fall of 1925. Victor set him up as a direct competitor by calling him the "Whispering Baritone" or Whispering Jack Smith and alleged Art Gillham was imitating Jack Smith. On Victor's 1925 test recording of Jack Smith he was actually listed as "Whispering Pianist" (Discography of American Historical Recordings). Columbia began advertising Art Gillham as "Famous Enough to Be Imitated". (advertising saved in his scrapbook) In 1926 Columbia imported record presses to Sydney, Australia. The first Australian Columbia pressing was Gillham's "In Your Green Hat" and "It's Too Late to Be Sorry Now". His recording of "My Swanee River Home" was released only in Australia. (Rust) In 1928 he made several recordings for Columbia under the pseudonym "Barrel-House Pete" (Discography of American Historical Recordings). Before recording for Columbia Gillham made several unissued recordings for Gennett, then a couple for Pathé. His first recording for Columbia in 1924 was "How Do You Do". His last recording for Columbia in 1931 was "Just A Minute More to Say Goodbye". In 1934 he made a final commercial recording for Victor which was released on its Bluebird label. In the 1940s and 1950s he made over 200 home recordings for friends (Internet Archive). In addition to phonograph records, Art Gillham also recorded piano rolls on the Columbia, Supertone, Mel-O-Dee, Vocalstyle and Duo-Art labels. While recording for Columbia he made regular tours of the Pantages and Loews vaudeville circuits in the South and West. However, his whispering style was not as successful in theaters as they did not have microphones. Everywhere he appeared on stage he also appeared on radio and in music and record stores. Window displays featured his recordings and piano rolls.