ABSTRACT
Canadian/American tenor and composer, born in Chatham, Ontario. He transferred to the U.S. in 1904 and became a citizen in 1922. O’Hara was highly versatile, appearing in minstrel shows and vaudeville, as well as operettas. He was also a church organist. He composed “Your Eyes Have Told Me,” recorded by Enrico Caruso; and he sang American Indian songs. “K-K-K-Katy” was the most popular of his 300 songs. His first record was an Edison cylinder in 1905, “The Rosary” with the Knickerbocker Quintet (#9052). Then he sang for Zonophone in 1906-1907 as a member of the Criterion Quartet. He went to Victor in 1916. Victor #17635 (also on Edison Blue Amberol #2451) presented O’Hara in Indian songs with tom-tom accompaniment. His best-selling record was “They Made It Twice as Nice as Paradise and They Called It Dixieland” (Victor #18051; 1916). O’Hara died in St. Petersburg, Florida. [Walsh 1960/2.]
One of the affiliates of the North American Phonograph Co., situated in Cincinnati, from 1890 to 1897. James Andem, a pioneer in the entertainment use of the phonograph, was president in 1890-1893. The firm was one that produced its own records, in addition to selling those from the parent company. Dan Kelly was a leading artist, maker of the “Pat Brady” series of records. In May 1897 the company was succeeded by the Edison Phonograph Co., with Andem as general manager. Calvin Child gained his early experience with the company.
