William A. Huntley

William Augustus Penno, Jr. (November 2, 1843 — March 26, 1929), known by his stage name William A. Huntley, was a composer, music teacher, vocal and instrumental performer in minstrel and vaudeville traditions and later a classic banjoist. His published compositions include classic-banjo instrumentals and parlor music. Huntley moved between performing and teaching several times throughout his life. He performed throughout the United States and toured Europe as a part of several different minstrel groups. A highlight of his performing career was to play before the Prince and Princess of Wales, about 1880 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. He moved away from minstrel shows by the 1880s, and "took pride" that he could perform without blackface stage makeup. He focused on building respectability for the banjo, through teaching, composition, and performance recitals. He was featured in the S. S. Stewart Company's catalog (showing that art-banjo promoter Stewart recognized his talent) and began to play the company's banjeaurine. In 1888 he performed before a crowd of 2,000 people in his hometown, Providence, Rhode Island.