Robert A. King (composer)

Robert A. King (September 20, 1862 – April 13, 1932) was a prolific early twentieth century American composer, who wrote under pen names including the pen names, 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