John Bieling

John Bieling

Source: Library of Congress

Born on 15 March 1869 in New York City, tenor, John Bieling, sang with various vocal groups while working in a stained glass factory. Bieling first recorded in 1892 with the Manhansett Quartet, other members of which were George Gaskin, Joe Riley and Walter Snow. In 1898 he formed the Edison Male Quartet to record for Thomas Edison's phonograph company. That group would be renamed the Haydn Quartet in order to record for other companies as well ('Sweet Adeline You're the Flower of My Heart'/ Monarch 2923/ '04). If Bieling ever issued a solo name record I've not found it. All of his titles appear to be with others in duets or quartets.

'Sally In Our Alley'   John Bieling w the Manhansett Quartette   Lead unidentified

Cylinder recorded sometime 1892 for North American

Composition: Frank Bridge

'I'se gwine back to Dixie'   John Bieling w the Edison Quartet   Lead unidentified

Brown wax cylinder recorded 1901   Reproduced as Edison Gold Moulded Record 2222 issued 1902

Composition: C. A. White

He recorded with Steve Porter as early as 1901 ('Hello Central! Give Me Heaven') before numerous tracks with Harry Macdonough beginning in 1903. He began singing with Billy Murray's American Quartet in 1909, then Murray's Heidelberg Quintet in 1911.

'Hello Central! Give Me Heaven'   John Bieling w Steve Porter   Lead: Steve Porter

Recorded 26 October 1901 in Philadelphia   Victor 1069

Composition: Chas. K. Harris

'Sweet Genevieve'   John Bieling w Steve Porter   Lead: John Bieling

Lambert 517  1902

Music: Henry Tucker   Lyrics: George Cooper

'The Little Rustic Cottage By the Stream'   John Bieling w Harry Macdonough

Recorded 26 October 1901 in Philadelphia   Victor 2953

Composition: John A. Heinzman / Otto Heinzman

'In the Sweet Bye and Bye'   John Bieling w the Haydn Quartet   Lead unidentified

Recorded 9 October 1908 in Cemden NJ   Victor 16532

Music: Joseph Philbrick Webster   Lyrics: Sanford Fillmore Bennett

'That Fellow With the Cello Rag'   John Bieling w the American Quartet

Recorded 4 April 1911  Victor 5844

Composition: Victor H. Smalley

'That College Rag'   John Bieling w the American Quartet   Lead: Billy Murray

Recorded 15 Feb 1912   Victor 17067

Music: Albert Von Tilzer   Lyrics: Harry Porter

'I Want to Love You While the Music's Playing'

John Bieling w the Heidelberg Quintet   Lead: Billy Murray

Recorded 15 April 1912 in Camden NJ   Victor 17124

Music: George Botsford   Lyrics: Jean C. Havez

'Mobile Minstrels'   John Bieling w the Victor Minstrel Company

'Down Where the Brass Band Is Playing' w 'Honey, You'se Ma Lady Lovey'

Other personnel: Billy Murray / Steve Porter / William Hooley

Recorded 10 Feb 1913 in Camden NJ   Victor 17293

Composition: Nat Mann / Steve Porter

'On the Banks of the Wabash'   John Bieling w the American Quartet   Lead unidentified

Recorded 14 March 1913 in Camden NJ   Victor 17397

Legislated the state song of Indiana on the same date of 14 March 1913

Composition: Paul Dresser

'Dear Old Girl'   John Bieling w the Haydn Quartet   Lead: Harry Macdonough

Recorded 1 July 1913 in Camden NJ   Victor 17397

Music: Theodore F. Morse   Lyrics: Richard Henry Buck

'Floating Down the River'   John Bieling w the American Quartet

Recorded 3 Sep 1913  Victor 13714

Music: James White   Lyrics: Roger Lewis

Bieling stopped singing in 1913 due to damaged (overworked) vocal chords. DAHR traces him to as late as 15 October of 1913 with the American Quartet for 'Love Me Like I Love You', 'Dixie Days' and 'When They Christened Brother Johnson's Child'. Replaced by Robert Armour, Bieling then began to work in sales for Victor Records. Later selling Victrola phonographs, he retired from that in 1926, not to die until 30 March 1948 in Hempstead, Long Island.