Rev. Paul Hage (Boulous El Hage Boutrous): Continuing the Legacy of Recorded Maronite Hymnody at 78 RPM
Rev. Paul Hage (Boulous El Hage Boutrous): Continuing the Legacy of Recorded Maronite Hymnody at 78 RPM Rev. Paul Hage, c. 1955 From Church Hymns album. Courtesy of Richard M. Breaux collection. Coming off our most recent post featuring Sami el Shawwa we are returning to our topical origins. When we encountered our first set of 78-rpm Arabic records, we knew virtually nothing about most of the musicians and singers who performed on shellac during the 78-rpm era. Extending from 1912 to approximately 1961, Arab American musicians launched their recording careers on Victor and Columbia before changing course down a self-created path of Arab American music labels including Maloof , A.J. Macksoud , Alamphon , Arabphon , Al-Chark , Morad , Cleopatra, Wardatone , and a plethora productively independent local, regional, national, and international labels. Most of the singers, composers, musicians, record sellers, and record labels featured on Midwest Mahjar enjoyed popularity in ...