Lyons and Yosco | |
|---|---|
 George Lyons and Bob Yosco in a publicity photo from the Salt Lake City Tribune, 28 January 1914 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dominick George Martoccio and Rocco Giuseppe Iosco |
| Genres | Vaudeville, ragtime, popular music |
| Occupation(s) | musicians, comedians, composers |
| Instrument(s) | harp, voice and mandolin |
| Years active | early 1900s |
| Labels | Victor Records, Columbia Records |
Lyons and Yosco were an American comedy duo, consisting of Italian American musicians George Lyons and Bob Yosco. They were defined by the Ottawa Evening Journal "the finest pair of Italian street musicians playing in the Vaudeville ranks."[1] They toured the United States from 1909 into 1923, doing a musical and comedy act.[2][3][4] The News Journal described their performance, saying they were "the best vocalists and instrumentalists of the street variety on the stage, proved intensely interesting, while their droll comedy kept the audience laughing much of the time."[5]
They were also successful composers of popular music, including ragtime. One of their best known works was the million-selling ragtime piece, "Spaghetti Rag" which was notably popular during the ragtime revival in the 1950s. Their compositions were recorded by performers for Victor Records and Columbia Records.[6][7]
- ^ "A Grand Min-winter Vaudeville Carnival". The Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 23 January 1915. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ^ "1909 Lyons and Yosco in italian musical novelty". The Sun. New York. 10 October 1909. p. 36. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
...George Lyons and Bob Yosco in an Italian character musical novelty...
- ^ "Majestic Big Time Vaudeville". San Antonio Evening News. San Antonio, Texas. 28 April 1922. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
Lyons and Yosco in "Music and Songs"
- ^ "Lyons at Majestic". The Houston Post. Houston, Texas. 25 January 1924. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
George Lyons who formerly circulated the big time circuits with Bob Yosco...
- ^ "Amusements, The Garrick". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 5 October 1912. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ^ "Bob Yosco (composer)". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ^ "George Lyons (composer)". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 24 September 2016.