Songwriters Hall of Fame

Pianist and celesta player Charles Adams Prince, said to be a distant relative of President John Adams, was the musical director of Columbia Records from the turn of the century to the early 1920’s. During that period, his band, Prince’s Orchestra, accompanied virtually every recording artist for Columbia.

The orchestra was formed in the early 1900’s and while chiefly responsible for backing vocalists, also achieved over 80 top forty hit instrumental recordings from 1905 through 1923 including ‘Ballin’ the Jack’ (#1, 1914), ‘Hello Hawaii, How Are You?’ (#1, 1916) and ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ (#1, 1916).