Alfred Baldwin Sloane, often given as A. Baldwin Sloane, (28 August 1872,

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

– 21 February 1925,

Red Bank, New Jersey Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Incorporated in 1908, the community is on the Navesink River, the area's original transportation route to the ocean and other ports. Red Bank is in the New York metro ...

) was the most prolific songwriter for Broadway musical comedies in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. Despite his output and success during his lifetime, none of his music has had enduring popularity. Two of his most popular songs were "When You Ain't Got No Money You Needn't Come Around" and "Coming Through the Rye". His most successful hit tune was “Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl" which was first performed by

Marie Dressler Leila Marie Koerber (November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934), known professionally as Marie Dressler, was a Canadian-born stage- and screen-actress and comedian, popular in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood in early silent film, silent an ...

in the 1910 show '' Tillie's Nightmare''.

Early Life in Baltimore

Alfred Baldwin Sloane was born in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

on August 28, 1872. He was the son of Francis James Sloane and Emma Sloane (née Baldwin); both of whom came from families with musical heritage. His first music lessons were from his mother, and he also studied privately with music teachers in his native city. Despite the strong music background of his parents, they strongly objected to him pursuing a career in music. Sloane was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. His parents wished him to pursue a career in business, and in his youth he worked in his native city as an apprentice at a wholesale dry goods dealer. He lost his job there after spending most of his time at work surreptitiously composing music on boxes and other miscellaneous items. He also worked nights as an usher at the Academy of Music, and spent some time as the secretary for a company managing a Baltimore cemetery. Sloane's interest in lyric theatre led him to take a leading role in the founding of an amateur dramatic group in Baltimore, the Paint and Powder Club (PPC). The club originally began in 1892 at the Maryland Banjo and Mandolin Club with Sloane, Harry Price, Rowland West, and Reece Cassard as its founding members. The club expanded its scope and was transformed into the PPC not long after. Sloane's first songs were written for amateur productions in Baltimore with this group. His first score was written the PPC's production ''Mustapha''; an opera for which Sloane wrote both the music and libretto. It was given its premiere in February 1894 at

Ford's Grand Opera House Ford's Grand Opera House was a major music venue in Baltimore, Maryland, located on West Fayette Street between North Howard and Eutaw Streets. It was founded by theatre manager John T. Ford (also the owner of infamous Ford's Theatre in Washingto ...

with Sloane himself portraying the title role of the Turkish sultan. One of Sloane's first songs, "While Strolling Through the Forrest", was published in 1894. In 1895 he ended his connection with the PPC, and founded another amateur Baltimore performing group, the Rouge et Blanc Club. He wrote his second stage work for this group, the

burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

''Midas'', which was given its premiere at Albaugh's Lyceum Theatre on 5 February 1895 with Sloane once again portraying the title role. His brother, Francis James Sloane Jr., was also in the cast in the role of Antinous.

New York composer

Sloane moved to New York City not long after the premiere of ''Midas'' in Baltimore in 1895. The theatre

impresario An impresario (from Italian ''impresa'', 'an enterprise or undertaking') is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, Play (theatre), plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film producer, film or ...

Edward E. Rice caught a performance of the work while in Baltimore with a touring show he was producing,

Robert Barnet Robert Ayres Barnet (September 3, 1853 – June 26, 1933) was an American musical theatre lyricist from New York City, active in New York and Boston in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most remembered for his collaborations with the B ...

's ''1492''. Impressed by what he heard, he met with Sloane and bought the rights to ''Midas'' from him. A number of his songs form this work were interpolated into Rice's next musical '' Excelsior, Jr.''. These included the songs "The Alpine Horn", "Grandpa's Hat", "Hush, Silence", "I Love You Evaline; I'm a Very Fly Conductor", and "My Little Sunday Girl" among others. The success of ''Excelsior, Jr.'', first in Boston and later on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

, launched Sloane's career in the New York theatre scene. His first original score for the Broadway stage was in 1896 with the musical ''Jack and the Beanstalk''; a work which featured several well known fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters. It too used lyrics by Barnet and was mounted at the Casino Theatre by producers

Klaw and Erlanger Klaw and Erlanger was an entertainment management and production partnership of Marc Klaw and Abraham Lincoln Erlanger based in New York City from 1888 through 1919. While running their own considerable and multi-faceted theatrical businesses on ...

. The work was very successful financially between its run in New York and a subsequent national tour, and significantly raised the profile and popularity of actress

Madge Lessing Madge Lessing (27 November 1873 – 14 August 1966) was a British stage actress and singer, Pantomime, panto principal boy and postcard beauty of Edwardian musical comedy who had a successful career in the West End of London, West End in Lo ...

in the title role of Jack. In New York, Sloane quickly adapted his compositional style to what was then the current trend 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 ...

publishing houses; a shift which enabled him to be gainfully employed by having his songs interpolated into shows both on the musical stage and 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 ...

. These included several songs by Sloane incorporated into the musical ''Papa's Wife'' (1899) which starred

Anna Held Helene Anna Held (19 March 1872 – 12 August 1918) was a Polish-born French stage performer of Jewish origin on Broadway. While appearing in London, she was spotted by impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, who brought her to America as his common-law ...

. His first big hit was the 1898 song "When You Ain't Got No Money, (Well You Needn't Come Round)" which was popularized on the stage by

May Irwin May Irwin (born Georgina May Campbell; June 27, 1862 – October 22, 1938) was an actress, singer and star of vaudeville. Originally from Canada, she and her sister Flo Irwin found theater work after their father died. She was known for her pe ...

. His biggest success as a songwriter was the tune "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl," which

introduced in ''Tillie's Nightmare'' (1910), but none of his songs found enduring popularity. In 1900 he married Mae Auwerda. His most successful work as a composer in terms of quality was ''The Mocking Bird'' (1902). After 1912, Sloane's composition output declined as he embarked on a second successful career as an exhibition dancer. He did provide much of the music for ''

The Greenwich Village Follies of 1919 ''The Greenwich Village Follies of 1919'' is a musical revue in two acts with music by A. Baldwin Sloane and lyrics co-authored by John Murray Anderson and Arthur Swanstrom. Anderson also wrote the book in collaboration with Philip Bartholomae. ...

'' and ''

The Greenwich Village Follies of 1920 ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...

''. He wrote one of his musicals, ''Lady Teazle,'' for

Lillian Russell Lillian Russell (born Helen Louise Leonard; December 4, 1860 or 1861 – June 6, 1922) was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, praised for her beaut ...

when she was at the height of her national popularity. His last score, for the 1925 Broadway production ''China Rose'', was in production at the time of his death. ''China Rose'' had been produced in Boston, by Christmas Eve, 1924. While in the home of his daughter, Mrs. June H. Brackett, Alfred Baldwin Sloane died of heart disease at the age of 52 in

on 21 February 1925. At the time of his death, Sloane was the president of Composers' Publishing Company and vice president of Authors and Composers Publishing Company. He was a member of

The Lambs The Lambs, Inc. (also known as The Lambs Club) is a New York City social club that nurtures those active in the arts, as well as those who are supporters of the arts, by providing activities and a clubhouse for its members. It is America's old ...

, the

Green Room Club The Green Room Club was a London-based club, primarily for actors, but also for lovers of theatre, arts and music. It was established in in a restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, and moved to premises on Adam Street in 1955, where it remained un ...

, and Old Strollers. He married Lucille Mae Auwerda in Manhattan on February 15, 1900. They had one daughter – June Augusta Sloane (1901–1984) – who married Isaac Hosford Brackett (1901–1976).

Musicals and operettas with scores by Sloane

Musicals and operettas with interpolated music by Sloane

* '' Excelsior, Jr.'', musical; music by

George Lowell Tracy George may refer to: Names * George (given name) * George (surname) People * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE * George, stage name of Giorgi ...

; libretto by

; opened at Hammerstein's Olympia on November 29, 1895. Multiple songs and instrumental numbers interpolated into the show by Sloane. *''Stranger in New York'' (1897), musical; music by

Richard Stahl Richard Stahl (January 4, 1932 – June 18, 2006) was an American actor who mostly appeared in comic roles on television and in films. Early life A native of Detroit, Stahl moved to California when he was 15. During the Korean War he served in t ...

; book and lyrics by Charles H. Hoyt. Used the two songs by Sloane: "Won't You Speak to Sister Mary?" and "Walker's Dancing School" * ''Papa's Wife'' (1899) *''

A Chinese Honeymoon ''A Chinese Honeymoon'' is a musical comedy in two acts by George Dance, with music by Howard Talbot and additional music by Ivan Caryll and others, and additional lyrics by Harry Greenbank and others. One song that originated in the show w ...

'' (1901), musical in two acts; libretto by George Dance; music by

Howard Talbot Howard Munkittrick, better known as Howard Talbot (9 March 1865 – 12 September 1928), was an American-born, English-raised composer and conductor of Irish descent. He was best known for writing the music to several hit Edwardian musical comedi ...

. Sloane's song "Little Street in Heaven They Call Broadway" was interpolated into the 1902 Broadway production. * ''The Liberty Belles'' (1901), musical; music by John W. Bratton; lyrics and book by Harry B. Smith. Sloane contributed the songs "A Little Child Like Me", "My Filipino Pet", "Spring Hat" and "Shopping Chorus". * ''The Little Duchess'', additional music by Sloane, October 14, 1901 – April 1902 * George W. Lederer's ''Mid-Summer Night Fancies'', additional music Sloane, June 22, 1903 – July 18, 1903 * '' Red Feather'' (1903),

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

in two acts; music by

Reginald De Koven Henry Louis Reginald De Koven (April 3, 1859January 16, 1920) was an American music critic and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas. Biography De Koven was born in Middletown, Connecticut, and moved to Europe in 1870, where he receive ...

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

Charles Klein Charles Klein (January 7, 1867 – May 7, 1915) was an English-born playwright and actor who emigrated to America in 1883. After moving to New York City in 1883, Klein began acting. He began writing by 1890, soon working for producer Charles ...

; lyrics by Charles Emerson Cook. Sloane contributed the song "There's A Little Street in Heaven They Call Broadway" * ''The Girl from Dixie'' (1903), musical in two acts; libretto by Harry B. Smith; music by various composer. Sloane composed the music for the song "The Dissipated Kitten". * ''Glittering Gloria'' (1903), musical in three acts; music by

Bernard Rolt Bernard (''Bernhard'') is a French and West Germanic masculine given name. It has West Germanic origin and is also a surname. The name is attested from at least the 9th century. West Germanic ''Bernhard'' is composed from the two elements ''bern ...

; book by Hugh Morton; lyrics by Morton and Rolt. Premiered at

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c. 1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the arch ...

, London in 1903. The 1904 Broadway production at

Daly's Theatre Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937. The theatre was built for and named after the American impresa ...

featured the song "Susan" with lyrics by

Edward S. Abeles Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

and music by Sloane. * ''Girls Will Be Girls'' (1904), musical in three acts; music and lyrics by

Joseph Hart Joseph Hart (1711/12 – 24 May 1768) was a Calvinist minister in London. His works include ''Hart's Hymns'', a much-loved hymn book amongst evangelical Christians throughout its lifetime of over 200 years, which includes the well-known h ...

; book by

R. Melville Baker R. or r. may refer to: * ''Reign'', the period of time during which an Emperor, king, queen, etc., is ruler * '' Rex'', abbreviated as R., the Latin word meaning King * ''Regina'', abbreviated as R., the Latin word meaning Queen * or , abbreviate ...

. Sloane contributed the song "Swinging" to the national touring production in 1906. * ''The Rollicking Girl'' (1905), musical in three acts; music by William T. Francis; lyrics and book by

Sydney Rosenfeld Sydney Rosenfeld (1855–1931) was an American playwright who wrote numerous plays, and adapted many foreign plays. Close to fifty of his creations played on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Some of his better known plays (though none achieved long ...

. Sloane contributed the song "Bored" with lyrics by

Frederick Ranken Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Given name Nobility = Anhalt-Harzgerode = *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) = Austria = * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from ...

. * ''About Town'' (1906), musical in two acts; music by

Melville Ellis Melville may refer to: Places Antarctica *Cape Melville (South Shetland Islands) *Melville Peak, King George Island * Melville Glacier, Graham Land * Melville Highlands, Laurie Island * Melville Point, Marie Byrd Land Australia *Cape Melville, ...

and

Raymond Hubbell John Raymond Hubbell (June 1, 1879 – December 13, 1954) was an American writer, composer and lyricist. He is best known for the popular song, " Poor Butterfly". Life and career Hubbell was born in Urbana, Ohio. He attended schools in Ur ...

; book and lyrics by Joseph Herbert. The opening chorus added to the production in Boston in 1907 after its Broadway run ended is attributed to Sloane. * ''Fascinating Flora'' (1907), musical in two acts; music by

Gustav Kerker Gustave Adolph Kerker, sometimes given as Gustav or Gustavus Kerker, (February 28, 1857 – June 29, 1923) was a Kingdom of Prussia-born composer and conductor who spent most of his life in the United States. He became a musical director for Broad ...

; lyrics by: R. H. Burnside; book by R. H. Burnside and Joseph W. Herbert. Sloane's song "Romance and Reality" with lyrics by Louis Harrison was interpolated into the musical. * ''The Beauty Spot'' (1909), musical in two acts; music by

; book and lyrics by Joseph W. Herbert. Sloane wrote the music for the "Entrance of the Flower Girls", and his song "Foolish Questions" with lyrics by William Lee was interpolated into the show. * ''Hello, Paris'' (1911), musical revue in one act; music by

J. Rosamond Johnson John Rosamond Johnson (August 11, 1873 – November 11, 1954; usually referred to as J. Rosamond Johnson) was an American composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he had much of his career in New York C ...

; lyrics by

J. Leubrie Hill John Leubrie Hill (died August 1916) was a composer and writer. He wrote songs and musicals. He was in '' Rufus Rastus'' (1906), '' Mr. Lode of Koal'' (1909) and ''Bandanna Land'' (1908). He wrote the musical '' Hello Paris'' with J. Rosamond Joh ...

; book by William Le Baron. Sloane contributed the song "Sentimental Tommy" with lyrics by E. Ray Goetz. * ''All Star Gambol'' (1913), revue starring

with Dressler serving as playwright and lyricist and Frederick Schwartz as her musical director. Dressler used pre-existing songs for this show by a variety of composers. Sloane's song "Great Big Girl Like Me" with lyrics by Edgar Smith was interpolated into the show. *''A Fantastic Fricassee'' (1922), musical revue in fifteen scenes; Prologue attributed to Sloane. *''Sing Out, Sweet Land'' (1944), A Salute to American Folk and Popular Music; music arranged by

Elie Siegmaster Elie may refer to: People * Elie (given name) * Elie (surname) Places *Elie, Fife, a village in Scotland, now part of the town of Elie and Earlsferry *Elie, Manitoba, Canada **Elie, Manitoba tornado See also *Elie Hall, Grenada *Elie House, cou ...

. Used Sloane's "Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl".

Filmography

Soundtrack * 1952: ''

Somebody Loves Me "Somebody Loves Me" is a popular song, with music written by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and Buddy DeSylva. The song was published in 1924 and featured in ''George White's Scandals'' of 1924. This is not to be confused wit ...

,'' ''Toddling the Todalo'' lyrics by Sloane * 1940: '' Strike Up the Band'', ''Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl'', music & lyrics by Sloane (uncredited) * 1939: '' Frontier Marshal'' ''Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl'', music & lyrics by Sloan (uncredited) Writer * 1914: '' Tillie's Punctured Romance,'' ''Tillie's Nightmare'' (uncredited) Self * 1914: ''

Our Mutual Girl ''Our Mutual Girl'' is a 1914 American film serial shown in weekly installments, starring Norma Phillips. It was created by Mutual Film to be an alternative to "stunt-driven, wild-animal wrestling" serials such as ''The Perils of Pauline''. ''O ...

'', Sloane plays himself (episode 10)

Selected sheet music

William Pilling, New York (publisher) *
He Cert'ny Was Good To Me
'' lyrics by Jean C. Havez, music by Sloane (1898) M. Witmark & Sons *
Susie, Mah Sue
'' music & lyrics by Sloane (lyricist) (1900) – from the musical ''

Broadway to Tokio ''Broadway to Tokio'' is a musical in three acts with music by Alfred Baldwin Sloane and lyrics and book co-authored by George V. Hobart and Louis Harrison. While the song material was composed entirely by Sloane, composer Reginald De Koven al ...

'' * ''Lazy Bill, A Volunteer Of Rest'', music by Sloane, lyrics by Glen MacDonough (1897) - from the musical ''The Marquis of Michigan'' Joseph W. Stern & Co., New York * ''There's a Little Street in Heaven That They Call Broadway'', lyrics by James T. Waldron & Sloane, music by Sloane (1903)

Charles K. Harris 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 t ...

, Chicago : ''The Gingerbread Man'' (musical) : Book & lyrics by

Frederic Ranken Frederic G. Ranken (c. 1869 – October 19, 1905, in Manhattan) was an American librettist, lyricist, and playwright for light operas and musicals staged on Broadway from 1899 through 1907. His greatest success was the libretto for Reginald De Kove ...

, music by Sloane (1905) :*
The Evil Eye
' :*
The Beautiful Land of Bon Bon
' :*
John Dough
' :*
Moon Song
'

References

Citations

Bibliography

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sloane, Alfred Baldwin 1872 births 1925 deaths Broadway composers and lyricists Songwriters from Maryland History of New York City