Olly Oakley (1877–1943) (also known as Joseph or James Sharpe)[1][2] was a British banjo player and composer.
[3] Other than his performing name of Olly Oakley, he alternately recorded under the pseudonyms Fred Turner, Signor Cetra, Jack Sherwood, Mr F Curtis, Frank Forrester, and Tim Holes.
[3] Sharpe's music was influenced by minstrel songs, with a style of playing that was similar to the Bohee Brothers'.
[11] From the late 1890s to the 1930s, Sharpe made hundreds of recordings[3] on various labels and performed at British music halls.
[citation needed] In 1922, Sharpe published a statement in the London Gazette stating that he had applied and intended to legally change his name to Olly Oakley.