Dinwiddie Colored Quartet

The Dinwiddie Quartet, also known as "Dinwiddie Colored Quartet," was a short-lived American jubilee quartet best known for recording six songs for the Victor Talking Machine Co. label in late October 1902; all of them survived today preserved in several archives, including David Giovannoni's collection. It's one of the first African-American vocal ensembles to produce audio records after the Unique Quartette and [url=https://discogs.com/artist/7231064]Standard Quartette[/url] from Chicago in the late 1890s.

The group was established in 1898 at the Dinwiddie Normal and Industrial School in Dinwiddie County, Virginia (now Southside High School). All four members dropped out of the school in 1902 and pursued a vaudeville revue show touring career. The Dinwiddie Quartet presumably disbanded in 1904.

Dinwiddie Quartet
Sterling Rex — band leader, 1st tenor
J. Clarence Meredith — 2nd tenor
Harry B. Cruder — 1st bass
James Mantell Thomas — 2nd bass