Neil O'Brien (1868-1954)
Last updated: 24.04.25
All that can presently (April 2025) be gleaned about Neil O'Brien from sheet music covers and by Internet searching is that he was an American composer and black face performer as well as being the leader of his same-named Minstrelsy. Five of his compositions were published between 1901 and 1910. He was also been featured on 3 works published between 1911 and 1918.
His portrait on the left is taken from What the Engine Done (1911) words & music by Les C. Copeland, and published by Jerome H. Remick & Co., New York & Detroit, USA.
Surfers are welcome to contribute any further information about this composer/performer.
| Title | Attribution | Instruments | Source | Remarks |
|---|
 |
Brotherly Love (1906) | N. O'Brien (w&m) Lew Dockstader (perf.) |
Piano, Voice | Sheet Music Singer |  |
|
Smile, Just Simply Smile (1910) | N. O'Brien (w&m) N. O'Brien (perf.) |
Piano, Voice | Sheet Music Singer | |
The peformer is featured on 4 sheet music/recording covers. It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
ER
| Title | Composer | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
 |
What the Engine Done (1911) | Les C. Copeland(w&m) | Neil O'Brien (perf.) |
|
|
Land of Golden Dreams (1912), The | E. Frederick Dusenberry | C. M. Denison (words)
Neil O'Brien (perf.) William H. Thompson (perf.) |
|
|
It's a Long Way Back to Mother's Knee (1918) | Andrew B. Sterling | Bernie Grossman (words) Arthur Lange (words) Neil O'Brien (perf.) |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 5 works by Neil O'Brien (1868-1954).
It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys:
(w&m)
(w&m)
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Good Bye Miss Sadie Green | 1901 | Laura Comstock (perf.) | |
| You Aint No Actor (w&m) | 1902 | Pub. | |
| I Feel So Lonely (w&m) | 1904 | |
|
| Brotherly Love (w&m) | 1906 | Lew Dockstader (perf.) | Pub. |
| Smile, Just Simply Smile (w&m) | 1910 | Neil O'Brien (perf.) | |