Ernst Rolf

Ernst Ragnar Johansson (20 January 1891– 25 December 1932), professionally known as Ernst Rolf was a Swedish actor, singer and composer and musical revue artist. Rolf was born in Falun in the Swedish province of Dalarna, where his father was a tailor and member of the temperance movement. His musical talent was evident from the start when even as a young child he performed at IOGT meetings. He would sing while his older brother Birger played the piano.

In 1906 Rolf found work at the Åhlén & Holm mail order company in Insjön, Dalarna. He made his stage debut in a performance of The Wizard of Oz, playing Dorothy in an all-male cast. In 1907 he began touring the country as a singer and comedian, quickly becoming one of Sweden's most famous and successful entertainers.

During the 1920s Rolf was known for producing revues that were acclaimed for their dazzling sets, first class actors and stirring music. He was also a lyricist and composer, who wrote, for instance, the words to Finska Valsen (The Finnish Waltz) and the music for Från Frisco Till Cap (From Frisco to the Cape). He recorded his first song in 1910 and throughout his career made over eight hundred recordings. He acted in a number of films as well.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 20, 1891 (Q10493877), Died December 25, 1932 (Stockholm Cathedral Parish)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1911 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, vocalist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-19933 10-in. 5/23/1917 Bobby Charles G. Widdén Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-21844 10-in. 5/9/1918 Finska valsen Charles G. Widdén Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23965 10-in. 4/23/1920 I alla fulla fall Charles G. Widdén Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-28504 10-in. 8/24/1923 Dag efter dag Charles G. Widdén Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-29117 10-in. 12/7/1923 Finska valsen Hjalmar Peterson Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-38319 10-in. 4/1/1927 From Frisco to Cape Cod (Waltz) Hjalmar Peterson Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-47551 10-in. 9/24/1928 Mitt barndomshem Fred Carlsten Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia 45736 10-in. ca. 1915 Fleckeras vals Eric Berg ; Charles G. Widdén Male vocal solo, with accordion lyricist  
Columbia 58939 10-in. approximately October 1917 I alla fulla fall Birger Stenberg Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Columbia 58940 10-in. approximately October 1917 Stackars Ohlsson Birger Stenberg Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W106541 10-in. March 1926 När jag kommer igen Fyrar Glada Gossar Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo composer  
Columbia W106971 10-in. July 1926 Fagerövalsen Fyrar Glada Gossar Instrumental quartet composer  
Columbia W107611 10-in. January 1927 Alla jäntor a' lika Columbia Nyhetskvintetten Instrumental ensemble, with vocal composer  
Columbia W108641 10-in. January 1928 Från Frisco till Kap : Sjömansvals Fred Carlsten Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison 10944 10-in. 4/27/1926 Flickan med kortklippt hor Hugo Johnson Accordion solo composer  
Gramophone 1077ah 10-in. Feb. 1911 Bonddrängens klagan Ernst Rolf Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist  
Gramophone BE2181 10-in. 01/23/1930 Emigrantens hjemlaengsel Erling Krogh Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Rolf, Ernst," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116483.

Rolf, Ernst. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116483.

"Rolf, Ernst." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116483

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