[ Ref. Adam Aceto in 220718 MMDigest ]

I'll try to reply in a comprehensive manner, taking Mr. Adam Aceto's
message as a cue to start, even if the answer is more generic.

My 'operation' is intended to shake up the facts a bit since, in my
view, the well-known list of Frank Milne pseudonyms (those usual six
or seven well-known, i.e., Bob Edgeworth, Jeremy Lawrence, Robert
Farquhar, etc.) is a bit narrow. Why not delve deeper even with what
little information one has at the moment, or try to speculate?

Also, it only takes careful listening to his arrangements, noticing
the reiterated and common stylistic choices, to realise that there
is something related among the vast number of names (true or false,
or real pianists) that can be attributed to Milne.

We know who Walter Donaldson, Pauline Alpert, Newell Chase, Constance
Mering and many other well-known names in 1920-30s music were. This
does not detract from the fact that someone (like Milne himself) may
have borrowed their names to broaden the range of pianists arranging
in Aeolian; the same is equally applicable to other lesser-known or
totally fictional names.

Actually, among some other names mentioned, I was honestly not aware
that they were real pianists (like Lillian Jay). I will look into this,
it seems to be an interesting topic, but nevertheless as far as I am
concerned the question of pseudonyms remains as above.

I can understand the issue of Scottish names as a trivial coincidence,
but I will now try to give audio feedback on at least some of these
controversial names. (The MMDigest interface allows me to upload four
files, so I'll start with a few names to get the idea). It is undeniable
that all the pieces I have brought as examples give the idea of Milne's
pleasing 1920-30 style, combined with flashes of Pauline Alpert's
exuberant style.

I suggest also the listening of these rolls (as a non-exhaustive list):

(1) Duo-Art 0598 (1929) Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) (from 'Paris')
- Cole Porter - Constance Mering

(2) Duo-Art 0664 (1929) My Song Of The Nile (from 'Drag') - Meyer
- Edythe Leslie

(3) Duo-Art 0668 (1929) Ain't Misbehavin' (I'mSavin'MyLoveForYou)
- Lillian Jay

(4) Duo-Art 0670 (1929) Singin' In The Rain (from 'Hollywood Revue Of 1929')
- Brown - Edythe Leslie

Regards,

Luca Pastore

 [ Duo Art 0481 (1928) Four Walls - Jolson-Rose-Dreyer - Newell Chase
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/07/19/220719_112427_Duo%20Art%200481%20(1928)%20Four%20Walls%20-%20Jolson-Rose-Dreyer%20-%20Newell%20Chase.mp3 

 [ Duo Art 0506 (1928) When - Johnson - Newell Chase
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/07/19/220719_112427_Duo%20Art%200506%20(1928)%20When%20-%20Johnson%20-%20Newell%20Chase.mp3 

 [ Duo Art 0539 (1928) I Still Love You - Ager - Dagmar Nordstrom
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/07/19/220719_112427_Duo%20Art%200539%20(1928)%20I%20Still%20Love%20You%20-%20Ager%20-%20Dagmar%20Nordstrom.mp3 

 [ Duo Art 0610 (1929) I'm Bringing A Red Red Rose (from 'Whoopee') - Walter Donaldson - Donaldson
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/07/19/220719_112427_Duo%20Art%200610%20(1929)%20I'm%20Bringing%20A%20Red%20Red%20Rose%20(from%20'Whoopee')%20-%20Walter%20Donaldson%20-%20Donaldson.mp3