Hearing the Americas

Morton Harvey Describes Recording

May 27, 1905

The Topeka State Journal 27 May 1915, Thu · Page 5

Article on Singer Morton Harvey

HEARING HIMSELF SING
Morton Harvey Visits the Santa Fe Watch Co. Store. Morton Harvey, baritone singer, formerly with the Al G.'Field minstrels and the maker 'of the Edison records "In the: Hills 'of' Old Kentucky" and "There's, a Little Bungalow in Dixie Land," is in Topeka arranging to go on the Orpheum circuit in a musical offering' with Jack King, the tenor and pianist who appeared at the Orpheum the first half of this week. Mr. Harvey has sung for both the Victor and Edison people. He visited the music rooms of the Santa Fe Watch company and "listened to himself" as others do, then with the accompaniment of Mr. King sang the songs as he did before the big recording horns in the Edison laboratories. The word passed 'round from mouth to mouth that Morton Harvey was singing and soon the music room were well filled with the casual passers by and those luckily informed, and the big baritone fairly shook the walls with the song hits of the day. Three times he was urged to sing "When I Dream of Old Erin, I'm Dreaming of You." When asked about making records Mr. Harvey gave an interesting explanation of the arrangement of singers and instruments before the recording horns. He said the stringed instruments were grouped on the floor of the room, the horns often placed behind, arranged on sliding platforms to enable the players to vary the distance between the reproducing horn and that of the musician. Other instruments are given positions on elevated stands, every feature being studiously planned to create harmony and the desired results. "It's difficult, sometimes, to determine just how one is singing," said Mr. Harvey, "when a horn booms up behind or a bird whistle in one's ear almost splits the timpanum. "No," said he, "not every master record is a success; often several blanks are used before a successful reproduction is made." Mr. Harvey expects to continue singing for the Edison company as soon as the plant is rebuilt and running under normal conditions. Harvey and King, in their vaudeville stunt, probably will visit Topeka again.