William James Baskette (October 20, 1884 – November 8, 1949) was an American pianist and composer who wrote popular songs of the

Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of History of music publishing, music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the American popular music, popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally ...

era."Billy Basket, 64, Pianist, Songwriter", ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', November 11, 1949 He also wrote one of the most successful

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

war songs, "

Good Bye Broadway, Hello France Good-Bye Broadway, Hello France is a 1917 song composed by Billy Baskette, with lyrics written by C. Francis Reisner and Benny Davis. The song was published by Leo Feist, Inc. Leopold Feist (January 3, 1869, New York City or Mount Verson, New Y ...

". Baskette was born in

Henderson, Kentucky Henderson is a home rule-class city along the Ohio River and the county seat of Henderson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,781 at the 2020 U.S. census. It is part of the Evansville–Henderson, IN–KY Combined Statis ...

. His career in music began as a bassist in a circus band. He also was involved in

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 ...

performances as a dancer and a pianist. Later, he became a staff composer for various music publishing firms in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. He died in

Culver City, California Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. It is mostly surrounded by Los Angeles, but also shares a border with the unincorporated area of Ladera Heights, Californi ...

on November 8, 1949. Baskette was a part of the

movement of music. In 1918, there was a focus on music called "goodbye songs" referring to U.S. soldiers who were deployed to France during World War I. One of Baskette's most notable works was "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France," which was a hit song of the period.

Selected compositions

Leo Feist, Inc. Leopold Feist (January 3, 1869, New York City or Mount Verson, New York – June 21, 1930, Mount Vernon, New York) was a pioneer in the popular music publishing business. In 1897, Feist founded and ran a music publishing firm bearing his name. In ...

* "Hawaiian Butterfly", lyrics by George A. Little (1890–1946); music by Baskette &

Joseph Santley Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatre, musical theatre, theatrical plays motion pictures and tel ...

(1917) * "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France", C. Francis Reisner &

Benny Davis Benny Davis (August 21, 1895 - December 20, 1979) was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. Biography Davis started performing in vaudeville in his teens. He began writing songs when working as an accompanist for Blossom Seeley. In ...

; music by Baskette (1918) * "Take a Letter To My Daddy Over There", lyrics by Roger Lewis & Bobby Crawford; music by Baskette (1918) * "Jerry, You Warra A Warrior In the War", lyrics by Dannie O'Neil, music by Baskette (1919) Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., New York * " Baby's Prayer Will Soon Be Answered", lyrics & music by Baskette,

Gus Van Van and Schenck were popular American entertainers in the 1910s and 1920s: Gus Van (born August Von Glahn, August 12, 1886 – March 12, 1968), baritone, and Joe Schenck (pronounced "skenk"; born Joseph Thuma Schenck, (June 2, 1891– June ...

, & Joe Schenck (1918) † Berlin & Snyder, Inc. * "Waiting for the Evening Mail", lyrics by James Barton, music by Baskette (1923) H. Waterson, New York * "Dream Pal", lyrics & music by Baskette (1925) McCarthy & Fisher, Inc. * "If We Had a Million Like Him Over There", lyrics & music by Baskette (1918) * " I'm Goin' to Fight My Way Right Back to Carolina", lyrics & music by Baskette & Jessie Spiess (1918) * "Everybody Wants a Key to my Cellar",

Ed Rose Ed Rose is an American sound engineer and record producer. He has worked extensively with groups in the modern emo and pop punk scenes. He also co-owns Black Lodge Recording with Rob Pope and his brother Ryan Pope, members of the emo band The ...

, Baskette, &

Lew Pollack Lew Pollack (June 16, 1895 – January 18, 1946) was an American song composer and musician active during the 1920s and the 1930s. Career Pollack was born in New York City, where he went to DeWitt Clinton High School and was active as a boy sopra ...

(1919) J. Albert & Son * "Tell the Rose", lyrics & music by Baskette (1924) Milton Weil Music Co., Chicago * "Talking to the Moon", lyrics by George A. Little; music by Baskette (1926) * "Let Me Spent the Journey's End With You", lyrics by Baskette, music by

Paul Ash Paul Robert Ash (February 11, 1891, German Empire — July 13, 1958, Manhattan, New York (state), New York) was a German orchestra leader, composer, vaudeville personality, and recording artist, who emigrated to the United States. He recorded se ...

(1927) * "Hoosier Sweetheart", lyrics & music by Joe Goodwin,

, & Baskette; arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "The Man In The Moon Told Me", lyrics & music by Baskette, Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951), &

; arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "My Secret of Happiness", lyrics & music by Baskette & Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951); arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Night Time in Picardy", lyrics & music by Baskette & Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951); arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Save a Little Girl For Me", lyrics & music by Baskette & Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951); arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Tune In To-Night", lyrics & music by Baskette, arr. by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Right After They Leave My Arms", lyrics & music by Rube Bennett,

, & Baskette (1927) * "One Hour of Love", lyrics by Baskette, music by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Dream Train", words by Charles Newman, music by Baskette (1928) Harold Rossiter Music Co., Chicago * "I Could Waltz On Forever With You Sweetheart", lyrics by Rube Bennett, music by Baskette (1927) * "Ula-hoo", lyrics by Baskette, music by Rube Bennett (1927) * "Love Is Like That", lyrics by

, music by Baskette (1927) C. Bayha Music, New York (Charlies Anthony Bayha; 1891–1957) * "That's When I Learned To Love You", lyrics by Bartley Costello, music by Baskette (1929) Harms, Inc. * "The Perfect Dream", lyrics & music by Baskette & Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951) (1933) Bobbins Music Corp., New York * "Honolulu Sweetheart", lyrics & music by Baskette (1927) Billy Baskette Music Co., New York * "Old Shoes", lyrics & music by Baskette (1927) ; Helmy Kresa arranged for band Publisher unknown * "Forever and Ever and Ever", lyrics & music by Jesse Crawford, Baskette, & Bartley Costello (1929) Mason Music Company, New York * "The Blue Eagle Is Flying High", lyrics & music by Baskette & Theo Alban (''né'' Theophilus Lewis Alban; 1897–1951) (1933) Joe Davis, Inc., New York (Joseph Morton Davis; 1896–1978) * "Carolina Lullaby", words and music by Cecelia G. Reeker (''née'' Huenergardt; 1897–1981),

, & Baskette (1933) Mort Beck Music Co. * "Whistlin' Joe From Kokomo", lyrics & music by Baskette, Harry Edelheit, & Arthur Berman (1933) ---- :† "Baby's Prayer Will Soon Be Answered" was written in 1918 in response to Baskette's earlier song "Just A Baby's Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There)", a pair of late war songs hoping for a soldier's safe return.''Billy Baskettte'',

Germantown, Tennessee Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,333 at the 2020 census. It was given a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence in 2019. Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, border ...

: The Parlor Songs Academy

References

External links

Billy Baskette in the National Jukebox

Billy Baskette recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...

. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Baskette, Billy 1884 births 1949 deaths Songwriters from Kentucky People from Henderson, Kentucky 20th-century American songwriters

Selected compositions

References

Further reading

External links