Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
The Rhythmic Eight play "All By Yourself In The Moonlight", featuring some great solos.
The trumpet player here is Max Goldberg. No doubt about it. The alto sax soloist is Arthur Lally and the nice hot clarinet is played by Johnny Helfer, who, like Sylvester Ahola, hailed from Massachusetts.
THE RHYTHMIC EIGHT
Bert Firman directing: Max Goldberg - trumpet / Arthur Lally - alto sax, baritone sax / Jack Miranda - alto sax / Johnny Helfer - tenor sax , clarinet / Bert Read - piano / Joe Brannelly - tenor guitar / Billy Bell - brass bass / Rudy Starita - drums / Maurice Elwin - vocals
Recorded at Hayes, Middlesex, November 15, 1928
Yy-14939-2…….All By Yourself In The Moonlight…….Zonophone 5253
"All By Yourself In The Moonlight" was published by Cambridge Music, a music publishing company owned by Fred and Manuel Elizalde, with offices in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. The name given as the composer, Jay Wallis, was a pseudonym for British songwriter Ralph Butler, who mainly worked as a lyricist. He wrote the words to such well known songs as "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" (1932), "Run, Rabbit, Run" (1939), and "Hey! Little Hen" (1941), all co-written with composer Noel Gay.
The Rhythmic Eight play "All By Yourself In The Moonlight", featuring some great solos.
The trumpet player here is Max Goldberg. No doubt about it. The alto sax soloist is Arthur Lally and the nice hot clarinet is played by Johnny Helfer, who, like Sylvester Ahola, hailed from Massachusetts.
THE RHYTHMIC EIGHT
Bert Firman directing: Max Goldberg - trumpet / Arthur Lally - alto sax, baritone sax / Jack Miranda - alto sax / Johnny Helfer - tenor sax , clarinet / Bert Read - piano / Joe Brannelly - tenor guitar / Billy Bell - brass bass / Rudy Starita - drums / Maurice Elwin - vocals
Recorded at Hayes, Middlesex, November 15, 1928
Yy-14939-2…….All By Yourself In The Moonlight…….Zonophone 5253
"All By Yourself In The Moonlight" was published by Cambridge Music, a music publishing company owned by Fred and Manuel Elizalde, with offices in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. The name given as the composer, Jay Wallis, was a pseudonym for British songwriter Ralph Butler, who mainly worked as a lyricist. He wrote the words to such well known songs as "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" (1932), "Run, Rabbit, Run" (1939), and "Hey! Little Hen" (1941), all co-written with composer Noel Gay.


![12 year old banjoist Charlie Rogers - Smoky Mokes (1903 recording)
British banjoist Charlie Rogers plays Smoky Mokes, recorded on a 7 Odeon in October 1903. Rogers was just 12 years old at the time, hence the use of the title Master on the record label. Smoky Mokes was written in 1899 by Abe Holzmann.
CHARLIE ROGERS
Banjo solo with accompaniment by unknown pianist
Recorded London, c. October 1903
2076-2…….Smoky Mokes.......Odeon 2076
Note: Transfer - Nick Dellow and Mark Berresford, using Marks copy of Odeon 2076 from his collection. Audio restoration - Nick Dellow. Speed adjustment / repitching - Mark Berresford (main key is C; speed is 77 rpm).
Born in Shepherds Bush, London on 15th December 1890, Charlie Rogers first played in public around 1899, aged 8. Rogers acquired Vess Ossmans technique by listening to all of his cylinder recordings and learning the solos off by heart. Its said that he took lessons from Vess Ossman when Ossman toured England in 1900 and 1903, and also from the legendary British banjoist Joe Morley. He was hired by Clifford Essex for his Royal Pierrots in 1901 (the troupe included Joe Morley) and remained with them until c. 1904, billed as The Wonder Boy Banjoist. Rogers toured the music halls throughout the Edwardian period.
In addition to Odeon, Charlie Rogers also recorded for Zonophone, Nicole and Neophone. The Zonophone catalogue of July 1904 states: Only 14 years of age [at the time, he was actually 13], and certainly the most remarkable Banjoist in England. He continued to record up until January 1907 (the last recording session was for Neophone).
While on active service during World War One, Rogers right hand was injured by a bullet and sadly this put paid to his career as a banjoist. He remained in the army and rose to the rank of Major. Between 1933 and 1938, he was with the Army Pay Corps in Iraq! 12 year old banjoist Charlie Rogers - Smoky Mokes (1903 recording)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4NAihd3jjek/mqdefault.jpg)







