[78-L] Bently or Bentley Ball

[David Lewis]

I am interested in this artist, mainly owing to his repertoire, as per Ty's site:

A-3074     BENTLY BALL     LOCH LOMOND     90000     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3074     BENTLY BALL     TWANKYDILLO - SCOTCH FOLK SONG     90001     -     -     01/??/20 
A-3083     BENTLY BALL     HIAWATHAS DEPARTURE     90049     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3083     BENTLY BALL     TRIBAL PRAYER     90052     -     (IS=12/20)     01/??/20     -
A-3084     BENTLY BALL     GALLOWS TREES     90041     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3084     BENTLY BALL     BANGUM AND THE BOAR     90055     -     -     02/??/20     -
A-3085     BENTLY BALL     DYING COWBOY     90038     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3085     BENTLY BALL     JESSE JAMES     90039     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3086     BENTLEY BALL     GO DOWN MOSES     90051     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3086     BENTLEY BALL     O GRAVEYARD     90053     -     -     02/??/20     -
A-3087     BENTLEY BALL     THE LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN     90050     -     -     01/??/20     -
A-3087     BENTLEY BALL     OLD DAN TUCKER     90054     -     -     02/??/20     -

I'm particularly interested in A-3085, but would welcome anything I can listen to. The only thing I've found on him was that he was a trained singer, and although he was the first record some of these songs, his work isn't taken very seriously by scholars in C&W because of his high falutin, formal style. I don't care about that, and would love to know anything more concrete on him -- birth/death dates/places, any biographical info. 

I have seen mention of him recording for Columbia as early as 1918 and even mention of a catalogue listing for 1919, but can find no listing prior to 1920. Why? Were his earlier records issued in the "E" or some other Columbia series? 

Also, "Bentley" would be the correct form of the name, but can anyone confirm it wasn't "Bently"?

Uncle Dave Lewis
uncledavelewis at hotmail.com

 		 	   		  
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