Son of John P. Rous of Indiana and Anna L. (nee unknown) of Kentucky. Wife, Sophie Muller. Married December 13, 1894 in St Paul Minnesota. No children.
Popular recording artist of the 1890’s and the first 14 years of the 20th century. Recorded as and known as S.H. Dudley.
Samuel Rous began his singing career at age 20, when he began touring with an operetta company. For the next 13 years, he toured with 34 various opera companies performing in 72 different operas in the US, Canada and Mexico. He sang comic opera to grand opera and was part of the first touring company (in 1891) to sing grand opera in English.
In 1896, recording artist and friend Steve Porter asked Sam to sing in a quartet for the Edison Company. His voice and enunciation were perfect for the old time recording process and as SH Dudley he recorded as a soloist, duet partner, quartet member, in choruses, light opera companies and minstrel specialties. Sam spent 18 years as baritone in the Edison Quartet/Haydn Quartet (Edison label/Victor, Berliner, Zonophone labels) with John Bieling, Harry Macdonough and William F. Hooley. The Haydn Quartet was the first male voice ensemble to become internationally famous by their records.
In 1902, Sam was offered the position of Assistant Director at Victor. For the next 10 years, he was responsible for selecting 50-100 numbers for and writing notes for the monthly bulletin, making sure artists were engaged to sing, writing several hundred fans letters per month, testing all new records made for quality purposes (around 500 records per month), scouting new singers and novelty acts. His greatest achievements were from 1912 to 1919 as author and editor of the Victor Book of Opera and as the creator and editor of the Victor Catalog – a monumental alphabetical compilation of all Victor records.
The boy who had to quit school at age 13 to help support his family and had no formal vocal/musical training, became one of the most famous recording artists. He worked his way up from recording artist to a high position as a Victor Talking Company official and was one of the most influential and significant persons during the early days of recorded sound.
Source: Jim Walsh article "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists", Hobbies Magazine, January 1944, February 1944, May 1946, September 1947
Source: Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Passport Information, Federal Censuses
Popular recording artist of the 1890’s and the first 14 years of the 20th century. Recorded as and known as S.H. Dudley.
Samuel Rous began his singing career at age 20, when he began touring with an operetta company. For the next 13 years, he toured with 34 various opera companies performing in 72 different operas in the US, Canada and Mexico. He sang comic opera to grand opera and was part of the first touring company (in 1891) to sing grand opera in English.
In 1896, recording artist and friend Steve Porter asked Sam to sing in a quartet for the Edison Company. His voice and enunciation were perfect for the old time recording process and as SH Dudley he recorded as a soloist, duet partner, quartet member, in choruses, light opera companies and minstrel specialties. Sam spent 18 years as baritone in the Edison Quartet/Haydn Quartet (Edison label/Victor, Berliner, Zonophone labels) with John Bieling, Harry Macdonough and William F. Hooley. The Haydn Quartet was the first male voice ensemble to become internationally famous by their records.
In 1902, Sam was offered the position of Assistant Director at Victor. For the next 10 years, he was responsible for selecting 50-100 numbers for and writing notes for the monthly bulletin, making sure artists were engaged to sing, writing several hundred fans letters per month, testing all new records made for quality purposes (around 500 records per month), scouting new singers and novelty acts. His greatest achievements were from 1912 to 1919 as author and editor of the Victor Book of Opera and as the creator and editor of the Victor Catalog – a monumental alphabetical compilation of all Victor records.
The boy who had to quit school at age 13 to help support his family and had no formal vocal/musical training, became one of the most famous recording artists. He worked his way up from recording artist to a high position as a Victor Talking Company official and was one of the most influential and significant persons during the early days of recorded sound.
Source: Jim Walsh article "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists", Hobbies Magazine, January 1944, February 1944, May 1946, September 1947
Source: Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Passport Information, Federal Censuses
Son of John P. Rous of Indiana and Anna L. (nee unknown) of Kentucky. Wife, Sophie Muller. Married December 13, 1894 in St Paul Minnesota. No children.
Popular recording artist of the 1890’s and the first 14 years of the 20th century. Recorded as and known as S.H. Dudley.
Samuel Rous began his singing career at age 20, when he began touring with an operetta company. For the next 13 years, he toured with 34 various opera companies performing in 72 different operas in the US, Canada and Mexico. He sang comic opera to grand opera and was part of the first touring company (in 1891) to sing grand opera in English.
In 1896, recording artist and friend Steve Porter asked Sam to sing in a quartet for the Edison Company. His voice and enunciation were perfect for the old time recording process and as SH Dudley he recorded as a soloist, duet partner, quartet member, in choruses, light opera companies and minstrel specialties. Sam spent 18 years as baritone in the Edison Quartet/Haydn Quartet (Edison label/Victor, Berliner, Zonophone labels) with John Bieling, Harry Macdonough and William F. Hooley. The Haydn Quartet was the first male voice ensemble to become internationally famous by their records.
In 1902, Sam was offered the position of Assistant Director at Victor. For the next 10 years, he was responsible for selecting 50-100 numbers for and writing notes for the monthly bulletin, making sure artists were engaged to sing, writing several hundred fans letters per month, testing all new records made for quality purposes (around 500 records per month), scouting new singers and novelty acts. His greatest achievements were from 1912 to 1919 as author and editor of the Victor Book of Opera and as the creator and editor of the Victor Catalog – a monumental alphabetical compilation of all Victor records.
The boy who had to quit school at age 13 to help support his family and had no formal vocal/musical training, became one of the most famous recording artists. He worked his way up from recording artist to a high position as a Victor Talking Company official and was one of the most influential and significant persons during the early days of recorded sound.
Source: Jim Walsh article "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists", Hobbies Magazine, January 1944, February 1944, May 1946, September 1947
Source: Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Passport Information, Federal Censuses
Popular recording artist of the 1890’s and the first 14 years of the 20th century. Recorded as and known as S.H. Dudley.
Samuel Rous began his singing career at age 20, when he began touring with an operetta company. For the next 13 years, he toured with 34 various opera companies performing in 72 different operas in the US, Canada and Mexico. He sang comic opera to grand opera and was part of the first touring company (in 1891) to sing grand opera in English.
In 1896, recording artist and friend Steve Porter asked Sam to sing in a quartet for the Edison Company. His voice and enunciation were perfect for the old time recording process and as SH Dudley he recorded as a soloist, duet partner, quartet member, in choruses, light opera companies and minstrel specialties. Sam spent 18 years as baritone in the Edison Quartet/Haydn Quartet (Edison label/Victor, Berliner, Zonophone labels) with John Bieling, Harry Macdonough and William F. Hooley. The Haydn Quartet was the first male voice ensemble to become internationally famous by their records.
In 1902, Sam was offered the position of Assistant Director at Victor. For the next 10 years, he was responsible for selecting 50-100 numbers for and writing notes for the monthly bulletin, making sure artists were engaged to sing, writing several hundred fans letters per month, testing all new records made for quality purposes (around 500 records per month), scouting new singers and novelty acts. His greatest achievements were from 1912 to 1919 as author and editor of the Victor Book of Opera and as the creator and editor of the Victor Catalog – a monumental alphabetical compilation of all Victor records.
The boy who had to quit school at age 13 to help support his family and had no formal vocal/musical training, became one of the most famous recording artists. He worked his way up from recording artist to a high position as a Victor Talking Company official and was one of the most influential and significant persons during the early days of recorded sound.
Source: Jim Walsh article "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists", Hobbies Magazine, January 1944, February 1944, May 1946, September 1947
Source: Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate, Passport Information, Federal Censuses
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