Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham (1879 – 11 March 1942) was an Australian composer and publisher of mostly topical songs, and a musical comedyF.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.
What'll we do, when the wattle blooms again? 1929 by Reginald Stoneham"Deva Jazz: Jazz as you like it" circa 1920 by Reginald A A Stoneham
Biography
He was born in Carlton, Victoria in 1879, the fifth son of musician William (c. 1833 – 25 March 1913) and Ellen Stoneham (c. 1846 – 10 February 1889) of 210 Madeline Street Carlton.[1]
In 1900 he served in the South Australian Mounted Rifles as a private trumpeter. His trade was listed as "wood turner".[2][3] He was wounded in action at Slobet's Nek.[4]
In 1901 he married Adelaide Minnie "Addie" Lyons (1880–1959).[5] They had a daughter Val Augusta Elsa Stoneham on 10 April 1902.[6] Described as "one of Melbourne's leading florists", she was employed by Harris, Scarfe, Ltd., Adelaide in 1933.[7]
Stoneham is most remembered for the song "Sleepy Seas"[8] and patriotic songs during World War 1, notably the popular "Heroes of the Dardanelles".[8][9]
He lived at St Kilda, Victoria from 1918.[10] In 1920 he composed the musical comedy, F.F.F., styled as a "mystery musical comedy", with a book and lyrics by C. J. De Garis, was underwritten by Hugh D. McIntosh. It starred Maggie Moore and Charles H. Workman, among others. The "mystery" centred on the meaning of the enigmatic title, for which solutions were solicited and a prize offered. The show played at Adelaide's Prince of Wales Theatre 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.[11] It has not been revived.
In November 1929 the baritone Robert Nicholson recorded "Ballarat the Fair" and "Back to Warrnambool", accompanied by Stoneham. In March 1930 he recorded "Mildura (Home of Mine)".[12]
In 1932 he conducted a radio orchestra in Adelaide.[13]
Ill and unemployed, with an invalid wife and daughter to support, he petitioned for bankruptcy in 1936.[14]
Reginald Stoneham is mentioned in Australian newspapers as a well known and respected music creator.[62][8]
His work 'For God and St George' featured in a charity concert to support Belgians at the outbreak of the Great War.
Further reading
Van Straten, Frank Play it Again Reg in Theatre Heritage Australia: on stage part 1. in Vol.11 no.3 WINTER 2010 p. 10; part 2 in Vol.11 no.4 SPRING 2010 p. 42
^"At the Front". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 6413. Victoria, Australia. 8 February 1901. p. 1. Retrieved 13 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Advertiser. Vol. XLIII, no. 13, 306. South Australia. 11 June 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^Family NoticesThe Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 April 1902 p.4 accessed 2 July 2011
^"Advertising". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 21, no. 1, 089. South Australia. 8 April 1933. p. 5 ('Candida's" Woman's Section). Retrieved 8 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Soldiers' Songs". The Sun. No. 665. New South Wales, Australia. 26 December 1915. p. 11. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^Stoneham, R. (1934). Souvenir back to Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia : Official program [music] : Song "Back to Warrnambool" / written and composed by Reg. A. A. Stoneham. Warrnambool, Vic.: Warrnambool Progress Association.
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879–1942; Come to Mildura Committee; Archive CD Books Australia (2005), Come to Mildura the land of winter sunshine: souvenir & song, Archive CD Books Australia, ISBN978-1-921081-71-2{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"The Concert at Night". Northern Star. Vol. 40. New South Wales, Australia. 2 August 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Hobart Travel League". The Mercury. Vol. CXXXIII, no. 19, 722. Tasmania, Australia. 22 October 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
^Stoneham, Reginald A. A., 1879-1942; Humphries, Don; Adams, Les; Bowden, Charles, Memories of a lovely lei [music] / Reg. Stoneham, Reginald Stoneham Publishing House{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Advertising". The Herald. No. 16, 117. Victoria, Australia. 12 January 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 30 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"On The Air From 2NR". Northern Star. Vol. 61. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1936. p. 11. Retrieved 18 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
