Will Oakland

Will Oakland, along with somewhat earlier singer Richard Jose, was a celebrated countertenor on early recordings. Barbershop quartet harmony was at the height of its popularity in the years immediately following 1900, and Oakland was not only employed as a popular solo vocalist, but also as the high voice within the Heidelberg Quintet, an outstanding group that recorded for Victor and Edison from 1912 to 1914. Oakland was born Herman Hinrichs in Jersey City to immigrant parents originally from Hamburg, Germany. Upon reaching maturity Oakland opted to enlist in the U.S. Army a...