Roy Hunter Butin (October 30, 1876,

Logan, Ohio Logan is a city in Hocking. The population was 7,152 at the time of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hocking County. Logan is located in southeast Ohio, on the Hocking River 48 miles southeast of Columbus. The current mayor of Logan ...

– August 16, 1943, Long Beach, California) was an American recording artist in the early 20th century, known for his playing of the

harp guitar The harp guitar is a guitar-based stringed instrument generally defined as a "guitar, in any of its accepted forms, with any number of additional unstopped strings that can accommodate individual plucking." The word "harp" is used in reference t ...

. He recorded more than a dozen early cylinder and 78 rpm records. From at least 1906 to 1916, he performed as one half of The Olivotti Troubadours with Michael Banner. Artists he recorded with also included Samuel Siegel, Valentine Abt, and W. Eugene Page. Contrary to popular belief, he was not part of the Ossman-Dudley Trio, which featured Vess Ossman on banjo, Audley Dudley on mandolin and George Dudley on harp guitar. Roy was married twice. His first marriage to Florence McPhail, in April 1898, ended in divorce before 1900. His second marriage was to an actress, Elsie Clare Sanford, in September 1912. That marriage ended in divorce in July 1925. His last relationship was with his housekeeper, Emma Oldham. No marriage is recorded, but it appears they did live together.

Recordings

Butin recorded 10 records with

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsid ...

in 1908. * Estellita waltz (with Samuel Siegel) * American valor march (with Samuel Siegel) * In Fairyland (with Samuel Siegel) * Sweet memories (with Valentine Abt) * Manzanillo (with Valentine Abt) * Artist's valse (with Valentine Abt) * Evening star (with Valentine Abt) * Barcarolle (with Valentine Abt) * Fantasie (with Valentine Abt) * Polka scherzo (with W. Eugene Page) Other recordings include: * Gavotte Caprice (with Samuel Siegel on mandolin) 1909 * Sugar Plum (with Samuel Siegel on mandolin) 1909 * Carnival of Venice (the Ollivotti Troubadours: Michael Banner, violin and Roy H. Butin, (harp) guitar) 1909 * Waltz (Waltz Caprice)(with Samuel Siegel on mandolin) 1909 * Mobile Prance (with W. Eugene Page on mandolin) 9/21/1909 * Polka Scherzo (with W. Eugene Page on mandolin) 9/21/1909

References

External links

Library of Congress held recordings of Roy Butin

Roy Butin public domain records, available to download.
*
Pamphlet for his recording partner, Valentine Abt
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butin, Roy 1877 births 1943 deaths American performance artists American ragtime musicians People from Logan, Ohio