In the Billings Rollography, Vol. 6, Tel-Electric Company[1], in the 
section for the 80,000 hand played series for the 88-note Telektra 
reproducing player system, on page 198 there is one listing, "Dengoza 
Brazilian Maxixe Tango, # 80378, played by Hughe Woolford". About all 
could find out about him through a Google search was that he was 
a member of the "Clef Club", a combination social club and booking 
agency for Black musicians established by James Reese Europe[2]. 

When Bob and Ginny Billings were assembling the Tel-Electric 
rollography, if they didn't find absolute proof that a roll number 
existed, then they left it out. So, in the listing there are a lot 
of missing numbers. Actual proof was finding the roll, finding the 
box with label, or finding original catalogs showing the roll. 

The brass rolls themselves only had the roll number stamped on the 
beginning of the roll, so without the box and label or a catalog
there is no way to identify the music (other than listening to it). 

As I have studied their roll listings, especially of the hand played 
series, I saw that when they engaged pianists to come and record, they 
had them play about at least 10 selections and often-times more. 

So, I suspect there are quite a few more selections played by Hughe 
Woolford for the Telektra. On pages 198 and 199 there are a good number 
of titles with number but no pianist listed. Very often the artists 
signature on the box label, which were printed with a blue ink, has 
faded completely away. Also you can see many missing numbers. 

It may also be possible that James Reese Europe and/or Ford Dabney
also recorded for the Telektra. I do know of the existence of 80417,
Castle's "Lame Duck", pianist unknown. I suspect it was played by
Woolford or possibly Europe or Dabney. Unfortunately that roll is not
available to me so I don't know if it's box and label are with it. 

I would be very interested to learn more about Hughe Woolford. Did he 
make any recordings for other roll companies? 

As always, I am on the lookout for additional 88-note Telektra rolls. 

Thanks, 
Dave Krall
Hammond, Indiana

 [ "Trouville Canter", composed by Hughe Woolford (1914), is performed
 [ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=KsCicwA1iQU 
 [ References:
 [ [1] The Billings Rollography, Volume 6 - Early Player Piano Music:
 [ The Tel-Electric Company From 1907 To 1917, by Ginny and Bob
 [ Billings (c) 2001
 [ [2] https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200038842/ 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Reese_Europe 
 [ https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/james-reese-europe/ 
 [ -- Robbie