Ben Edwards (c. 1884 – June 17, 1954) was an American

music publisher A music publisher is a type of publisher that specializes in distributing music. Music publishers originally published sheet music. When copyright became legally protected, music publishers began to play a role in the management of the intellectu ...

and long-time

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

talent agent A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds work for actors, authors, broadcast journalists, film directors, musicians, models, professional athletes, screenwriters, writers, dancers, and other professionals in various entertainm ...

of German birth.

Life and career

Born Benjamin Schmelowsky in Posen, Germany, Ben Edwards was the brother of songwriters Leo Edwards and Gus Edwards, and vaudeville songstress Dorothea Edwards. In 1891 he traveled to the United States with his family on the steamship ''Spaarndam'', arriving at the Port of New York on 29 July 1891. The family settled in the

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

neighborhood of

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. Ben Edwards served as his older brother Gus's agent and publisher; managing the Gus Edwards Music Company for fourteen years and booking his brother for vaudeville performances. He expanded into managing the careers of other top vaudeville acts in addition to booking gigs for his other siblings; becoming one of the top vaudeville bookers of the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. Edwards died in New York City at the Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital in 1954 at the age of 70. He was married to Ethel Edwards. Their daughter was the singer and songwriter Joan Edwards.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Ben 1880s births 1954 deaths American music publishers (people) American talent agents Emigrants from the German Empire to the United States