Name Reginald Stoneham Role Composer | Died March 11, 1942 | |
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Thrills and kisses 1923 by reginald stoneham 1879 1942
Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham (1879 – 11 March 1942) was an Australian composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedy F.F.F. He was perhaps Australia's leading exponent of jazz and ragtime piano styles in the first decades of the 20th century as both composer and performer. He was also a popular accompanist and recording artist.
Contents
- Thrills and kisses 1923 by reginald stoneham 1879 1942
- Lolita 1928 by Reginald Stoneham 1879 1942
- Biography
- FFF
- Other compositions
- References
Lolita 1928 by Reginald Stoneham 1879-1942
Biography
He was born in Carlton, Victoria in 1879 to musician William (ca.1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (ca.1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton. Ellen was William's second wife, and mother of Harry, Herbert, Fred, Will, Bertha, Reg, Elsa; William's third wife Annie Grace (ca.1850 – 22 September 1938) was mother of Theo, Algie and Arthur.
In 1899 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (d. 1959), daughter of Augusta Rachel (ca 1853 – 2 March 1934) and Jonah Aaron "Joe" Lyons (d.27 July 1916) of Unley, South Australia.
They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902.
In 1900 he was on the force of the South Australian Contingent (to South Africa) as a trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner". He was buried with the ritual of the Returned Services League
He lived at St Kilda, Victoria from 1918, initially in Princess Street, perhaps later at 29 Orange Grove, East St Kilda as per a copyright notice in 1930, and at the time of his death at 3 Robe Street, St Kilda.
Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936. He had never adapted to the new demands of radio broadcasting, and the vogue for Australian sheet music had dried up.
F.F.F.
F.F.F., styled as a "mystery musical comedy", underwritten by Hugh D. McIntosh and devised by promoter-businessman C. J. De Garis who also wrote the lyrics to music by Stoneham, starring Maggie Moore, Rex London, Minnie Love, Billy Rego, Hugh Steyne, Marie Le Varre and Charles H. Workman. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show opened 28 August 1920 at the "Prince of Wales" theatre (previously "Tivoli", now "Her Majesty's") Adelaide for a successful season, followed by a week in Perth and a fortnight in Melbourne, where the "Argus" critic praised the songs but lambasted the play. It was never revived.
Among the sixteen songs were: