Jazz trumpeter.
Oliver was born in Cambridge, Massachussetts on October 21 of 1894.
He seems to started trumpet lessons when he was a child.
Oliver served as trumpeter for the General Pershing's Military band during the World War I.
After the World War I, he started making recordings on 1919 as member of several Harry A. Yerkes units & joined Ray Miller's band, with whom Oliver recorded from 1920 to October 5 from 1922, in which Oliver met Julius Berkin, who joined Miller's band on January from 1922.
Trombonist Tom Brown was with Oliver on both bands
It was during that period that Oliver also cut with the All Star Trio & Their Orchestra for Victor from 1921 to 1922.
It was on mid November from 1922 that Ben Selvin (the grandpa of David Eric Selvin & Emily Selvin) hired Earl Oliver for his band alongside Ray Stillwell, Arnold Brilhart, Thomas/Tom "Spatty" Timothy & Lew/Louis/Lou Cobey.
Oliver's first recording session with Selvin was on November 25 of 1922 for Vocalion (tunes included were "I'm Through (Shedding Tears Over You)", "Who Cares", "Open Your Arms, My Alabamy" & "The Fuzzy Wuzzy Bird", the first 2 were issued on Vocalion 14477 & the last 2 were issued on Vocalion 14472).
It was also the beginning of Oliver's growling trumpet style, which started its developement that was modeled after Nick LaRocca & Jules Levy Jr. among other trumpeters.
Oliver's style consisted of varying the melody with the frequent use of flutter tongue effects that he started using around 1923 & gave birth also to his growling trumpet playing style.
According to Michael May, Oliver developed & started using 6 solo routines when he was playing either on live gigs or on recording sessions, a fact which attests his ability to read.
That isn't all, Oliver was also very good with the mutes, which were the wah-wah mute, the straight mute & even the derby mute.
He also played in open horn too.
Thanks to his good work with Ben Selvin, Oliver also started & was also allowed by Selvin to record with Arthur Lange, Bob Haring, Roger Wolfe Kahn, Sam Lanin, Charlie Fry, Nathan Glantz, Lou Gold, Eddie Peabody, Adrian Schubert, Harry Reser & many more bandleaders
According to Joe W. Freeman's book "Henry Levine and the "recording" trumpeters", Henry "Hot Lips" Levine described Earl Oliver as being a tall & skinny guy that was more or less a loner & it was his good playing that the recording bandleaders wanted.
Oliver's last known residence during his remaining years of life was Oswego, New York.
He died in California on June from 1970.
[Information about Oliver's first recording with Ben Selvin from Richard Johnson & Bernard Shirley's book "American Dance Bands On Record & Film, 1915-1942", who is also the source of the information about Oliver's recording career.]
2006
Retrieval
CD, Comp
2001
Timeless Records (3)
CD, Comp, RM
1992
1982
Queen-disc
LP, Comp, Mono
1980
1979
Retrieval
LP, Comp
1979
Fountain Records (5)
LP, Comp
1930
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1930
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1929
Okeh
Shellac, 10"
1929
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1929
1929
1929
1928
Columbia
Shellac, 10"
1928
Duophone Record
Shellac, 10"
1928
1927
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1927
Chantal De Luxe
Shellac, 10"
1927
Pathé Actuelle
Shellac, 10"
1927
Okeh
Shellac, 10"
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Harmony (4)
Shellac, 10"
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1926
Oriole (3)
Shellac, 10"
1926
Disques Francis Salabert
Shellac, 10"
1926
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1926
Pathé
Pathé Disc, 29cm, 80 RPM
1926
Banner
Shellac, 10"
1926
1925
Puritan
Shellac, 10"
1925
Lincoln
Shellac, 10"
1925
Harmony (4)
Shellac, 10"
1925
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1925
Edison Records
Edison Disc
1925
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1925
Vocalion (2)
Shellac, 10"
1925
Aco
Shellac, 10"
1925
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1925
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1925
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1925
Domino (2)
Shellac, 10", Bro
1925
1925
1925
1925
1924
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1924
Vocalion (2)
Shellac, 10", Red
1924
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1924
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1924
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1924
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1924
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1924
Vocalion (2)
Shellac, 10", Red
1924
Brunswick
Shellac, 10"
1924
Maxsa
Shellac, 10"
1924
1924
1923
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1923
Disque Chantal
Shellac, 10"
1923
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1923
Cameo (3)
Shellac, 10"
1923
Vocalion (2)
Shellac, 10"
1923
1922
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1922
OKeh
Shellac, 10"
1922
1922
1921
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1921
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1921
Victor
Shellac, 10"
1921
Victor
Shellac, 12"
1921
Gennett
Shellac, 10"
1921
His Master's Voice
Shellac, 10"
1921
1920
Odeon
2xLP, Comp
Grannyphone
LP, Comp, Mono
Homestead (2)
Shellac, 10"
Zonophone
Shellac, 10"
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