Van Brunt, Walter
(1892–1971)
Van Brunt, Walter (22 Apr 1892–11 Apr 1971) American tenor and comic singer, born in Brooklyn, New York; widely known by the stage name Walter Scanlan (a name he adopted during World War I when anti-German feelings were particularly strong). He played piano and sang in church, while collecting phonograph records and trying to sing like Billy Murray. In 1907 he began to record for the Indestructible label, then went to Edison—where he became the inventor’s favorite tenor and maker of the most…