Arthur Collins | Byron G. Harlan

Phonograph records existed for less than half of this artist's life, but he certainly made the most of the technology when it came along. Arthur Collins may have been the most widely recorded vocalist of the early 20th century, for the eager Edison engineers alone concocting some 200 solo sides as well as another 100 releases as part of the popular duo Collins & Harlan. Collins had the kind of physical heft which is said to be ideal for vocalists in the baritone or bass range, and, in fact, the combination with the equally portly Harlan quickly led to a nickname of "the Half-T...