Robert A. King (composer)

Robert A. King (September 20, 1862 – April 13, 1932) was a prolific early twentieth century American composer, who wrote under pseudonyms including Mary Earl,^{[1][2][3][4][5]} Robert A. Keiser,^[6] and Betty Chapin.^[7]

Robert A. King
Born	(1862-09-20)September 20, 1862
Died	April 13, 1932(1932-04-13) (aged 69)
Other names	Mary Earl, Betty Chapin, Robert A. Keiser
Occupation(s)	composer and lyricist
Years active	1900-1932
Notable work	"Lafayette, We Hear You Calling", "Beautiful Ohio"

Career

Some authors believe that King wrote the song "The Fountain in the Park", credited to vaudevillian Ed Haley.^[8][9]

In January 1903, King managed the Teachers' Department for Leo Feist Inc., one of Tin Pan Alley's music publishers.^[10]

His first hit was "Anona".’^[1] He collaborated musically with Ballard Macdonald, Billy Moll, Ted Fiorito, Howard Johnson, Gus Kahn,^[11] and Charley Straight.^[12]

In 1918, King as Mary Earl composed "Beautiful Ohio" with lyrics by Ballard Macdonald. A chart topper during the year of its release, it sold more than five million copies for publisher Shapiro, Bernstein, & Company.^[13]

Selected works

• "You're the Only One" (1900)^[7]
• "My Moonbeam Babe" (1901)^[7]
• "De Sandman's Coming 'Round" (1901)^[7]
• "Beyond the Gates of Paradise" (1901)^[7]
• "Anona" (1903)
• "The Daisy and the Butterfly" (1902)^[7]
• "An Afternoon Tea" (1903)^[7]
• "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden" (1903)^[7]
• With Robert Recker. "Zenobie: March and Two Step". (1904) OCLC 11185049
• "Romany Waltz"^[7]
• "Gee! What a Wonderful Time We'll Have When the Boys Come Home" (1917) OCLC 20119914
• "My Sweetheart is Somewhere in France"^[7]
• "Lafayette, We Hear You Calling" (1918)^[14][15]
• "From Valley Forge to France" (1918) OCLC 84533041
• With Ballard MacDonald. "Beautiful Ohio" (1918) Arranged for dance orchestra by Bob Haring in 1936. OCLC 696390859
• "Cheer Up, Mother" (1918)
• "Dreamy Alabama" (1919)
• "Ruspana" (1919)^[7]
• "Wild Flower" (1920))^[7]
• "In Old Manila" (1920) OCLC 26006985
• "Love Bird" (1921)^[7]
• "Isle of Paradise" (1921)^[7]
• "I Ain't Nobody's Darling" (1921)^[7]
• "Just Like a Rainbow" (1921)^[7]
• "By the Old Ohio Shore" (1921)^[7]
• "In Rosetime (When We Said Goodbye)" (1922)^[7]
• "Honeymoon Chimes" (1922)^[7]
• "I've Got the 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' Blues" (1923)^[7]
• "Mississippi Ripples" (1923)^[7]
• "The Clock is Playing" (1924)^[7]
• "Why Did I Kiss that Girl?" (1924)^[7]
• With Charley Straight. "I Need Some Pettin'" (1924)^[12]
• "Peter Pan (I Love You)" (1925)^[12]
• "Seminola" (1925)^[12]
• "Keep Your Skirts Down, Mary Ann" (1925)^[12]
• "Tell Me You Love Me" (1926)^[12]
• With Billy Moll and Howard Johnson. "I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream" (1927) and (1928) OCLC 43026474
• With Marvin Lee. "Rocky Mountain Lullaby" (1931) OCLC 18861363
• With Morton Downey and Sam M. Lewis. "An Old Fashioned Home in New Hampshire" (1931) OCLC 18852827