John H. Lee (musician)

For other people named John Lee, see John Lee (disambiguation).
John Haley
John H. Lee, 1886.
Background information
Also known asJohn H. Lee
Born1847 [1]
Phillipsburg, New Jersey[1]
DiedSeptember 7, 1890(1890-09-07) (aged 42–43) [1]
San Diego, California[1]
Genresminstrel, instrumental
Occupation(s)composer, performer
Instrument(s)5-string banjo, 6-string banjo, banjeaurine

John H. Lee (1847 – September 7, 1890) was the stage name for John D. Haley, an American banjoist, composer and author of the late 19th century.[2][3][4] He was known as a harmonist, writing lessons for playing harmony on the five-string banjo and employing "remarkeable fingering" to construct chords.[5] He promoted three new types of banjo for S. S. Stewart, the banjeaurine, Little Wonder picolo banjo, and six-string banjo, performing on the instruments alongside William A. Huntley.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b c d "Obituary" (PDF). S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal. Vol. 7, no. 4. Boston: S. S. Stewart. October 1890. p. 1.
  2. ^ Schreyer, Lowell H. (2007). The Banjo Entertainers: Roots to Ragtime, A Banjo History. Mankato, Minnesota: Minnesota Heritage Publishing. pp. 153–154. ISBN 978-0-9713168-9-8.
  3. ^ "Obituary". Catcomb's Banjo and Guitar Journal. Boston: L. B. Catcomb Company. November 1890. p. 3. His real name was John Haley, and he followed for a time the business of shoe-making in San Francisco, but having musical talent of a high order he decided to make it his business.
  4. ^ "U.S. City Directories, 1822–1995 for John D Haley, California, San Francisco, 1873, San Francisco Directory, 1873". ancestry.com. [page] 278, Haley, John D., U. W. M. C. Boot and Shoe Co., dwl 16 Langton
  5. ^ Armstrong, Thomas A. (1889). The Crown Banjo Method. Boston: Oliver Ditson Company. p. 72. [Copyright notice to publishers F. A. North & Company]
  6. ^ "The progress of banjo music" (PDF). S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal. Philadelphia: S. S. Stewart. February 1889. p. 1. It was during his association with William A. Huntley, of Providence, R. I., that Mr. Lee did so much towards the introduction of the Stewart Improved Banjo, known as the Imperial Banjeaurine; and the use of this instrument in the hands of Mr. Huntley, with an accompaniment upon the six string banjo, by Mr. Lee, did a great deal for the banjo, in transforming that instrument into a harp, as far as musical times are concerned.
  7. ^ Lee, John H. (April 1886). "A Lesson Chord Construction for the Banjo Chapter I" (PDF). S. S. Stewart's Banjo and Guitar Journal, April–May 1886. Philadelphia: S. S. Stewart. p. 9. Introducing S. S. Stewart's "Little Wonder," the smallest banjo ever played apon... (Introducing the latest banjo novelty—the "Banjeaurine,"...Messrs. Huntley and Lee