Charles K. Harris: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American songwriter}} |
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{{Other people|Charles Harris}} |
{{Other people|Charles Harris}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=June 2012}} |
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[[File:Charles |
[[File:Charles Kassell Harris, three-quarter length portrait LCCN98503000 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Charles K. Harris c. 1900]] |
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'''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". |
'''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 [[sentimental ballad|tear jerkers]]". He is one of the early pioneers of [[Tin Pan Alley]].<ref name="Charles K. Harris 1926" /> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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[[File:AftertheBallSheet.jpg| |
[[File:AftertheBallSheet.jpg|thumb|"[[After the Ball (song)|After the Ball]]" sheet music cover]] |
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[[File:ESW sheet music cover.jpg|thumb|"A Little Brook, a Little Girl, a Little Love" sheet music cover by [[Emmett Watson (illustrator)|Emmett Watson]]]] |
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| ⚫ | Harris was born in [[Poughkeepsie (city), New York|Poughkeepsie]], [[New York (state)|New York]] into a family of ten children. His father was a fur trader and moved the family to [[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. |
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| ⚫ | Harris was born in [[Poughkeepsie (city), New York|Poughkeepsie]], [[New York (state)|New York]] into a [[Jewish]] family of ten children. His father was a fur trader and moved the family to [[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. |
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| ⚫ | In 1892,<ref>Joan Morris |
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| ⚫ | In 1892,<ref>{{cite web|first=Joan |last=Morris|title=Harris, Charles K(assel)|website=www.oxfordmusiconline.com|accessdate=7 April 2014|url=http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/48196}}></ref> Harris wrote "[[After the Ball (song)|After the Ball]]", a song about an old man recounting the story of his long-lost love to his niece. He caught the attention of [[John Philip Sousa]], who played the tune at the [[World Columbian Exposition|1893 World Columbian Exposition]] in [[Chicago]], boosting sheet music sales to in excess of five million copies in the 1890s.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book |
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| ⚫ | |||
|first= Christopher |
|first= Christopher |
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|title= Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams |
|title= Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams |
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|publisher= John Murray |
|publisher= John Murray |
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|year= 2010 |
|year= 2010 |
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|isbn = 1-84854-195- |
|isbn = 978-1-84854-195-5 |
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|page=345 |
|page=345 |
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}}<!--|accessdate=9 June 2012--></ref> |
}}<!--|accessdate=9 June 2012--></ref> |
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His next hit "[[Break the News to Mother]]", about a dying soldier, coincided with the [[ |
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 [[The Revelers|Shannon Four]] and [[Henry Burr]].<ref>Paas, John Roger (2014). ''America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I''. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 135, {{ISBN|9783447102780}}.</ref> |
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In 1899, he drew upon his own experiences as a Jew to compose "A Rabbi's Daughter".<ref>Jack Gottlieb, ''Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish'', SUNY Press, 2012</ref> |
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Another popular song was 1901's "[[Hello Central, Give Me Heaven]]". |
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Harris's sentimental songs were introduced on stages and music halls, but they found ready acceptance among folkloric [[string band]]s of the South. Both "Fallen By the Wayside"' and "There’ll Come a Time" were recorded by [[Charlie Poole]] and the North Carolina Ramblers, and both "Mid the Green Fields of Virginia" and his extremely popular song from 1901, "[[Hello Central, Give Me Heaven]]", were recorded by [[The Carter Family]]. |
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[[File:Charles K. Harris sings his own song "After the Ball" in "A Trip to Chinatown".webm|thumb|Harris singing "After the Ball" in ''[[A Trip to Chinatown]]''.]] |
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==Books== |
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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''.<ref name="Charles K. Harris 1926" /> According to ''[[The New York Times Book Review]]'', the book generated a "{{linktext|deluge}} of letters from amateur musicians expressing their high regard for his work."<ref name="NYTs-Book-Review 1926 May 23" /> |
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==Death== |
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He died in [[New York City]] in 1930. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist |
{{Reflist|100em|refs= |
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<ref name="Charles K. Harris 1926">Charles K. Harris (1926). ''[https://archive.org/stream/afterballfortyye00harr#page/n0/mode/2up/ After the Ball: Forty Years of Melody; An Autobiography]'', New York: Frank-Maurice, Inc. {{OCLC|862504}}</ref> |
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<ref name="NYTs-Book-Review 1926 May 23">[http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%207/New%20York%20NY%20Times/New%20York%20NY%20Times%201926%2021-30%20May%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Times%201926%20May%2021-30%20Grayscale%20-%200149.pdf "Books and Authors" (pg. 18)] ([http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%207/New%20York%20NY%20Times/New%20York%20NY%20Times%201926%2021-30%20May%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Times%201926%20May%2021-30%20Grayscale%20-%200146.pdf pg. 21]) ''[[The New York Times Book Review]]'', May 23, 1926</ref> |
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}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category |
{{Commons category-inline}} |
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*[http://parlorsongs.com/bios/ckharris/ckharris.asp Rather Comprehensive Biography] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050308211413/http://parlorsongs.com/bios/ckharris/ckharris.asp Rather Comprehensive Biography] |
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*[http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/write-pop-song/how-write-pop-song.html Online book on songwriting by Charles K. Harris] |
*[http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/write-pop-song/how-write-pop-song.html Online book on songwriting by Charles K. Harris] |
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* [https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107322 Chas. K. Harris recordings] at the [[Discography of American Historical Recordings]]. |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:1930 deaths]] |
[[Category:1930 deaths]] |
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[[Category:American male composers]] |
[[Category:American male composers]] |
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[[Category:American male songwriters]] |
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[[Category:Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York)]] |
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[[Category:Jewish American songwriters]] |
[[Category:Jewish American songwriters]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Musicians from Milwaukee]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Musicians from Poughkeepsie, New York]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]] |
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[[Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] |
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[[Category:Songwriters from Wisconsin]] |
[[Category:Songwriters from Wisconsin]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:40, 15 September 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2012) |
.jpg)
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
[edit]
Harris was born in Poughkeepsie, New York into a Jewish family of ten children. His father was a fur trader and moved the family to 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,[2] Harris wrote "After the Ball", a song about an old man recounting the story of his long-lost love to his niece. He caught the attention of John Philip Sousa, who played the tune at the 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 string bands of the South. Both "Fallen By the Wayside"' and "There’ll Come a Time" were recorded by Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, and both "Mid the Green Fields of Virginia" and his extremely popular song from 1901, "Hello Central, Give Me Heaven", were recorded by 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.
Books
[edit]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
[edit]He died in New York City in 1930.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Charles K. Harris (1926). After the Ball: Forty Years of Melody; An Autobiography, New York: Frank-Maurice, Inc. OCLC 862504
- ^ Morris, Joan. "Harris, Charles K(assel)". www.oxfordmusiconline.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.>
- ^ Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life Of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
- ^ Paas, John Roger (2014). America Sings of War: American Sheet Music from World War I. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 135, ISBN 9783447102780.
- ^ Jack Gottlieb, Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish, SUNY Press, 2012
- ^ "Books and Authors" (pg. 18) (pg. 21) The New York Times Book Review, May 23, 1926
External links
[edit]
Media related to Charles K. Harris at Wikimedia Commons
