Benjamin M. Jerome (1881 – March 29, 1938), also known by the

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

Ben Jerome, was an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

arranger In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...

, lyricist, songwriter, pianist, and conductor. In his early career he worked in New York City as a Tin Pan Alley composer of popular music, and was a notable arranger of ragtime music. He also composed music and/or wrote lyrics to several

musicals Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

staged on Broadway. He later lived in Chicago where he worked for 12 years as the music director of the La Salle Theater. Jerome died in Chicago on March 29, 1938, after a five-day illness.

Partial list of stage works

*''Mam'selle 'Awkins'' (1900); one of many songwriters to contribute songs *''The Supper Club'' (1901); music and lyrics *''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...

'' (1902), contributed two songs to the musical *''The Darling of the Gallery Gods'' (1903) *''The Dress Parade'' (1903) *''The Isle of Spice'' (1904); music also by Paul Schindler *''The Royal Chef'' (1904) *''The Mimic World 1908'' (1908); music also by

Seymour Furth Seymour Furth (1876, New York City − May 22, 1932, Boston) was an American songwriter, composer, and librettist active from the late 1890s until his death in 1932. He wrote popular songs for Broadway musicals, vaudeville, tin pan alley, and minstr ...

*''Mr. Hamlet of Broadway'' (1908) *''He Came from Milwaukee'' (1910); music also by

Louis A. Hirsch Louis Achille Hirsch, also known as Louis A. Hirsch and Lou Hirsch (November 28, 1887 – May 13, 1924), was an American composer of songs and musicals in the early 20th century. Life and career Hirsch was born in New York City. In his senior ...

*''

Yes, Yes, Yvette ''Yes, Yes, Yvette'' is a musical in three acts with lyrics by Irving Caesar and music by Philip Charig and Ben Jerome. James Montgomery and William Cary Duncan co-authored the musical's book which was based on Montgomery's 1916 play ''Nothing ...

'' (1926), musical in three act; music by Ben Jerome and

Philip Charig Philip Charig (August 31, 1902 – July 21, 1960) was a composer and lyricist for plays in New York and London. He wrote ''Follow the Girls'' and others. Musicals * ''Yes, Yes, Yvette'' (1927); music also by Ben Jerome * '' Just Fancy'' (1927); mus ...

; premiered December 5, 1926, Four Cohans Theatre, Chicago; Broadway premiere at the

Sam H. Harris Theatre The Sam H. Harris Theatre, originally the Candler Theatre, was a theater within the Candler Building, at 226 West 42nd Street, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1914, the 1,200-seat theater was designed b ...

on October 3, 1927

References

External links

* 1881 births 1938 deaths 20th-century American composers American musical theatre lyricists American musical theatre composers American pianists American songwriters {{composer-stub