Zema Randale  (1900-1918)
Last updated: 01.02.24
Perhaps because of her youth and early tragic death from diphtheria and certainly because of the popularity of her piano rolls which even today (2009) still enjoy a loyal following, Zema Randale has become a fascinating subject of interest and research among latter-day ragtimers. She was an important ragtime performer who cut a score or so of rolls for Imperial Player Roll Co., Chicago. Biographical details are sketchy and there is much conjecture. Ed Sprankle is said to have reproduced a photo of her, perhaps from a catalogue, showing a wonderful "spit curl" in the middle of her forehead. A recently located obituary notice revealed that her full name was Zema Randale Housholder and that she was mourned by her mother and brother.
For data housekeeping purposes she is listed in these webpages as the one-off composer of Mutilation Rag (1915).
Websites:
url15.gif Zema Randale Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards  
  Title Co-Author(s) Sequencer
       
audiomidi15.gif Mutilation Rag (1915) James Pitt-Payne
  Title (Release Year) Performers Instruments
       
audiodbemp315.gif Mutilation Rag (1915) Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. D/A/T/T/B/B/GB(B)
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
Ragtime Music CDs:
cd15.gif Nora Hulse 24 Piano Rags by Women flag15us.gif
Item Title Available €     £     $     Other
             
DBE1007 Mutilation Rag (1915)
D/A/T/T/B/B/GB(B), approx. 3¼ mins.
print-on-demand €12.00 £10.00 $15.50  
     Title Instruments Remarks
       
sm15.gif Mutilation Rag (1915) D/A/T/T/B/B/GB(B) dbe15.gifwvicon.gif
     Title Attribution Instruments Source Remarks
           
pdf15.gif Mutilation Rag (1915) Z. Randale (music) Piano IMSLP wvicon.gif
Below is a table of piano rolls which are credited to Zema Randale. It has been compiled from various Internet sources, principally from postings on Pianola (The Online Pianola Forum!) and others. Surfers are most welcome to fill-in the empty bits, add and/or correct!

MidiCat. No.Roll Title Year Composer
Imperial 52035 Desecration (1914) 1914 Felix Arndt
Imperial 958470Missouri Waltz 1914 Frederic Knight Logan
Imperial 52703 I Work Eight Hours 1915 Ted Snyder
Imperial 53113 Beets and Turnips 1915 Cliff Hess & Frederick Emil Ahlert
Imperial 53154Mutilation Rag (1915) 1915Zema Randale
 Imperial 57100-70Blue Danube Waltz ?Johann Strauss 1.***
Imperial 955270Keep The Home Fires Burning1915Ivor Novello
Imperial 958120She Is The Sunshine Of Virginia 1916MacDonald & Harry Carroll
Imperial 9488 Baby's Prayer At Twilight 1917Lewis; Young & Jerome
Imperial 9513 Absence Brings You Nearer To My Heart1917 Benedek & Solmon
Imperial 58500 When You Hear Jackson Moan On His Saxophone 1917 Harry Carroll
Imperial 959270 Where The Black Eyed Susans Grow 1917Radford & Richard A. Whiting
Imperial 53524 Beatrice Talmidge
Imperial 57350 The Old Oaken Bucket Kaillmark
Imperial 957340My Old Kentucky Home Stephen Collins Foster
ImperialBugle Call Rag
ImperialListen To This
ImperialOriginal Chicago Blues
Umbrellas To Mend

1.*** Contributed by surfer Trudy (Schulze) Moffitt in October 2017: Thanks a lot Trudy!
Please note that all the midis given in the table above are copyrighted by WSTco, Inc. and that their commercial use prohibited.
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 1 work by Zema Randale (1900-1918). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER pdf15.gif
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Mutilation Rag 1915 Midi Ragtime Recorder Ensemble (perf.)  wvicon.gif audiomidi15.gif audiodbemp315.gif