Albert Von Tilzer

Albert Von Tilzer (March 29, 1878 - October 1, 1956) was an American songwriter, the younger brother of Harry Von Tilzer.

Albert Von Tilzer was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and was given the name Albert Gumm (which had been shortened by his parents from Gumbinski (or possibly Guminski). As a young man he worked briefly at his older brother Harry Von Tilzer's publishing company, and Albert's earliest songs were published by Harry. Within a very few years Albert formed his own firm, The York Publishing Company, and there appears to have been no further collaboration between Albert and Harry although both of them wrote and published many hundreds of songs.

Tilzer was Albert and Harry's mother's maiden name. When oldest brother Harry began his song writing career he assumed the professional name Von Tilzer, adding the honorific "Von" to his mother's maiden name. Albert followed suit, as did younger brothers Will and Jules Von Tilzer, both of whom were also active in the music industry.

Von Tilzer was a top Tin Pan Alley tune writer, producing numerous popular music compositions from 1900 continuing through the early fifties. He collaborated with many lyricists, including Jack Norworth, Lew Brown, and Harry MacPherson. A number of his tunes were performed (and recorded) by jazz bands and continue to be played decades later. In addition to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," which may eventually prove to be the most enduring popular song of the twentieth century, the best remembered of his songs at the beginning of the third millennium are those which were revived in the 1940s and 50s including "Apple Blossom Time," and "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey."

His songs included "The Alcoholic Blues", "Apple Blossom Time", "Chili Bean", "Dapper Dan", "Honey Boy", "I May Be Gone for a Long, Long Time", "I'm Glad I'm Married", "I'm the Lonesomest Gal in Town", "The Moon Has His Eye On You", "My Cutie's Due at Two-to-Two", "My Little Girl", "Oh By Jingo!", "Oh How She Could Yacki- Hacki, Wicki-Wacki, Woo", "Put on Your Slippers and Fill Up Your Pipe, You're Not Going Bye-Bye Tonight", "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey", "Roll Along, Prairie Moon", "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", "Wait Till You Get Them Up in the Air, Boys", and hundreds of others.

He died in Los Angeles, California.

Work on Broadway

*"The School Girl" (1904) - musical - featured songwriter for "Lonesome"
*"Ziegfeld Follies of 1908" (1908) - revue - featured composer for "You Will Have to Sing an Irish Song", "Nothing Ever Troubles Me (Nothing Ever Ever Ever Hardly Ever Troubles Me)", and "Since Mother Was a Girl"
*"The Happiest Night of His Life" (1911) - play - composer
*"Honey Girl" (1920) - musical - composer
*"The Gingham Girl" (1922) - musical - composer
*"Adrienne" (1923) - musical - composer
*"Three Doors" (1925) - play - producer
*"Burlesque" (1927) - play - featured songwriter

External links

* [http://www.parlorsongs.com/issues/2004-3/thismonth/feature.asp Albert Von Tilzer on Parlorsongs.com]
* [http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=284 Albert Von Tilzer on Songwriters Hall Of Fame]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=12533 Albert Von Tilzer] at the Internet Broadway Database