Charles K. Harris

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For other people named Charles Harris, see Charles Harris (disambiguation).
Charles K. Harris c. 1900

Charles Kassel Harris (May 1, 1867 – December 22, 1930) was a well regarded American songwriter of popular music. During his long career, he advanced the relatively new genre, publishing more than 300 songs, often deemed by admirers as the "king of the tear jerkers". He is one of the early pioneers of Tin Pan Alley.[1]

Biography

"After the Ball" sheet music cover
"A Little Brook, a Little Girl, a Little Love" sheet music cover by Emmett Watson

Harris was born in

Saginaw, Michigan and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up. From his early fascination with the banjo, he wrote his first song "Since Maggie Learned To Skate" for the play The Skating Rink by Nat Goodwin
in 1885.

In 1892,

1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, boosting sheet music sales to in excess of five million copies in the 1890s.[3]

His next hit "Break the News to Mother", about a dying soldier, coincided with the Spanish–American War in 1897 and furthered his popularity. It was also a hit during 1917 and 1918, with recordings by the Shannon Four and Henry Burr.[4]

In 1899, he drew upon his own experiences as a Jew to compose "A Rabbi's Daughter".[5]

Harris's sentimental songs were introduced on stages and music halls, but they found ready acceptance among folkloric

The Carter Family
.

Later, Harris began writing songs for musicals, working with Oscar Hammerstein. His plays The Scarlet Sisters and What's The Matter With Julius had moderate success.

Harris singing "After the Ball" in A Trip to Chinatown.

Books

In 1906 Harris also penned and self-published the book How to Write a Popular Song. In 1926, Harris published his autobiography bearing the title, After the Ball.[1] According to The New York Times Book Review, the book generated a "deluge of letters from amateur musicians expressing their high regard for his work."[6]

Death

He died in New York City in 1930.

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 862504
  2. ^ Morris, Joan. "Harris, Charles K(assel)". www.oxfordmusiconline.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.>
  3. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5
    .
  4. ISBN 9783447102780
    .
  5. ^ Jack Gottlieb, Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish, SUNY Press, 2012
  6. ^ "Books and Authors" (pg. 18) (pg. 21) The New York Times Book Review, May 23, 1926

External links

Media related to Charles K. Harris at Wikimedia Commons

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