[78-L] First vocal refrain on a dance band record

[Harold Aherne]

I've read in a few places that the first dance band side to have a vocal
refrain was "Smiles" by the Joseph C. Smith orchestra (by Harry MacDonough,
3 June 1918, Vic 18473). There are a couple of earlier contenders I've located
that others may want to comment on.
 
The first is on "Umbrellas to Mend" by the Frisco Jass Band (2 Aug 1917,
Edison 50470). Admittedly, it's not a true vocal refrain, but a voice (presumably
a member of the band) interjects "umbrellas!" and "umbrellas to mend" several 
times during the tune, perhaps one of the first voices to be heard on a 
jazz record.  
 
More notably, Rust's "British Dance Bands on Record 1911-1945" indicates that 
vocal refrains were present on almost all Savoy Quartet records from 1915 to 1920.
Their first recording was "We'll Have a Jubilee in My Old Kentucky Home" 
(13 Nov 1915, HMV B-577). The singer was Joe Wilbur, who did all the refrains for
Savoy Quartet records and doubled on banjo (the band were billed as Murray's 
Savoy Quartette until mid-1917). Can anyone comment on these records?
 
-Harold