Biography:Billy Whitlock
Billy Whitlock
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|---|---|
| Given name: | William |
| Middle name: | "Billy" |
| Family name: | Whitlock |
| Place of birth: | New York City |
| Place of death: | Long Branch, New Jersey |
| Year of birth: | 1813 |
| Year of death: | 1878 |
| Profile: | Composer, Musician |
| Source of information: | Monarchs of Minstrelsy |
Biographical notes
"Billy Whitlock was a typesetter on the New York Herald, and appeared at various theatres in the evening while retaining his position during the day. He made his first appearance in New York City in 1855, as Cuff in "O, Hush." He resigned from the Herald in 1837, and went with a circus; he returned to New York, and in the Winter of 1839 was engaged by P.T. Barnum to play the banjo for John Diamond, the great dancer.
[In early 1843 Whitlock was practicing with fiddler Dan Emmett, when a friend, Frank Bower, walked in and brought out a pair of bones and began to accompany them. Soon afterwards another friend, Richard Pelham, also visited, and the group prevailed upon him to go out and procure a tambourine, which he did. Thus the first minstrel troupe was born, and the decided to play out as the Virginia Minstrels. The group caused an immediate stir, and were soon booked solid for engagements, becoming wildly successful. In April they decided to try their luck in England, and boarded a steamship. However they only played some 6 weeks in London before breaking up, perhaps due to lack of attendance at performances.]
Mr. Whitlock was the first to return to the United States after the dissolution of the original company; he arrived about August, 1844, subsequently appearing with various small organizations and circuses. For many years he traveled as a Yankee comedian, and was also an acotr at the Bowery Theatre about 1853; he was the composer of "Lucy Long", one of the great songs of early minstrelsy. His last appearance was with Dan Rice's Circus in 1855.
His daughter married Edwin Adams, the great actor.
It is a strange thing that no one seems to know where Mr. Whitlock is buried. Billy Whitlock was born in New York City, 1813; he died at Long Branch, N.J., March 29, 1878.