Cullen and Collins, recording artists.

[thereallyniceman]

Here is another rare and early recording from the 19^th Century!

 

Maybe I should know of Cullen and Collins, but I know very little (nothing) apart from the fact that they were quite prolific recording artists !

 

Anyone know anything about their history?

ELI GREEN’S CAKEWALK by Joseph Cullen and William P. Collins

[Jody Stecher]

All I can add is that Eli Green's Cakewalk was published in the same year that C&C made their recording. And who was Eli Green?  In "The Banjo On Record"  Heier and Lotz write "This popular duo recorded for Berliner in the late 1990s. Joseph P Cullen and his partner William G Collins advertised themselves as banjo instructors in Washington DC ca 1895."  Here is the relevant page showing the duo's known recorded output at the time of publishing. The next  page contains one more item, "Dance of The Brownies", recorded in New York City, November 1st, 1989. 

It is interesting to note that the repertoire, basically the pop music of its day, may seem to include *anything* but doesn't come close to including *everything*.

Does anyone know which is is Cullen and which is Collins in the photo?

[Shawn McSweeny]

In The Banjo Entertainers, author Lowell Schreyer writes that Cullen and Collins were Vaudeville banjo duettists of the mid 1890's, billing themselves as "Washington's leading banjoists".  Their circular stated they would play classical music, but " balance it with popular music for a good entertainment". Their act included accompaniment by pianist Thos. F. McEnany.