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Robert A. King
Born(1862-09-20)September 20, 1862
DiedApril 13, 1932(1932-04-13) (aged 69)
Other namesMary Earl,
Betty Chapin,
Robert A. Keiser
Occupation(s)composer and lyricist
Years active1900-1932
Notable workLafayette, We Hear you Calling,
Beautiful Ohio

Robert A. King (September 20, 1862 – April 13, 1932) was a prolific early twentieth century American composer, who wrote under pen names including the pen names, Mary Earl,[1][2][3][4][5] Robert A. Keiser,[6] and Betty Chapin.[7]

Career[edit]

Some authors believe that King wrote the song The Fountain in the Park, credited to vaudevillian Ed Haley.[8][9]

In January 1903, King managed the Teachers' Department for Leo Feist Inc., one of Tin Pan Alley's music publishers.[10]

His first hit was ‘’Anona.’’[1] He collaborated musically with Ballard Macdonald, Billy Moll, Ted Fiorito, Howard Johnson, Gus Kahn,[11] and Charley Straight.[12]

In 1918, King as Mary Earl composed Beautiful Ohio with lyrics by Ballard Macdonald. A chart topper during the year of its release, it sold more than five million copies for publisher Shapiro, Bernstein, & Company.[13]

Selected works[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Mary Earl".
  2. ^ "Mary Earl i.e., Robert King". Library of Congress.
  3. ^ "WOMEN IN AMERICAN MUSIC, PAGE 2".
  4. ^ WALSH, THOMAS P. (2013). Tin Pan Alley and the Philippines American Songs of War And Love, 1898-1946. Scarecrow Press Inc. p. 245. ISBN 978-0810886087.
  5. ^ Vogel, Frederick G. (1995). World War I Songs: A History and Dictionary of Popular American Patriotic Tunes with Over 300 Complete Lyrics. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 51. ISBN 0899509525.
  6. ^ Jasen, David A. (1988). Tin Pan Alley: the Composers, the Songs, the Performers, and their Times. New York: Donald I. Fine, INc. pp. 35, 304. ISBN 1556110995.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Robert King (composer) - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu.
  8. ^ Marcuse, Maxwell F. (1959). Tin Pan Alley in gaslight;a saga of the songs that made the gray nineties "gay.". Watkins Glen, N.Y.: Century House. p. 60. hdl:2027/uc1.31822013278122.
  9. ^ Studwell, William E. (William Emmett) (1997). The Americana song reader. New York: Haworth Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7890-0150-4. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  10. ^ Jasen, David A. (1988). Tin Pan Alley: the Composers, the Songs, the Performers, and their Times. New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc. p. 35. ISBN 1556110995.
  11. ^ "Robert A. King". IMDb.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Jansen, David A. (2004). Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 1135949018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  13. ^ Jasen, David A. (1988). Tin Pan Alley: the Composers, the Songs, the Performers and their Times. New York: Donald I. Fine. p. 111. ISBN 1556110995.
  14. ^ "Lafayette: (we hear you calling). - Pritzker Military Museum & Library - Chicago". www.pritzkermilitary.org.
  15. ^ "Lafayette: (we hear you calling) - Pritzker Military Museum & Library - Chicago". www.pritzkermilitary.org.

External links[edit]

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