Egbert Van Alstyne
Encyclopedia
Egbert Anson Van Alstyne (March 4, 1878 - July 9, 1951) was a United States
songwriter
and pianist
. Van Alstyne was the composer of a number of popular and ragtime tunes from the early 20th century.
He was born in Marengo, Illinois
. After some time touring in Vaudeville
he moved to New York City
, initially working as a Tin Pan Alley
song-plugger
until he was able to make his living as a songwriter. He teamed with lyricist Harry H. Williams. Their first success was "Navajo" which was introduced in the Broadway
musical Nancy Brown in 1903 and became one of the first records by Billy Murray
early in 1904. Their best remembered song is In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
from 1905.
Other Van Alstyne hits included "Won't You Come Over to My House?", "I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark
", and "Memories".
Van Alstyne shares credit with Tony Jackson on the hit "Pretty Baby
". It was common for Tin Pan Alley publishers to add the name of one of their famous hit makers to tunes, and many have speculated this as being the main reason for Van Alstyne's name appearing on the piece, but Van Alstyne may have had a hand in writing or modifying the verse to Jackson's famous chorus.
He recorded a number of piano roll
s.
Egbert Van Alstyne lived for many years in Chicago
.
Egbert Van Alstyne was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. Van Alstyne was the composer of a number of popular and ragtime tunes from the early 20th century.
He was born in Marengo, Illinois
Marengo, Illinois
Marengo is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,355 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Marengo is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Major Streets:...
. After some time touring in Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, initially working as a Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
song-plugger
Song-plugger
A song-plugger was a piano player employed by music stores in the early 20th century to promote and help sell new sheet music, which is how hits were advertised before quality recordings were widely available. Typically, the pianist sat on the mezzanine level of a store and played whatever music...
until he was able to make his living as a songwriter. He teamed with lyricist Harry H. Williams. Their first success was "Navajo" which was introduced in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Nancy Brown in 1903 and became one of the first records by Billy Murray
Billy Murray (singer)
William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
early in 1904. Their best remembered song is In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree is a popular song dating from 1905. It was written by Harry Williams and Egbert Van Alstyne .The meter of its chorus is in the form of a Limerick.It can safely be characterized as a highly sentimental tune...
from 1905.
Other Van Alstyne hits included "Won't You Come Over to My House?", "I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark
I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark
I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark is popular song, written by Egbert Van Alstyne and Harry Williams in 1907, and made famous by Billy Murray. Today it's popular among collecters of cylinder recordings. Billy Murray recorded the song on several record labels, including Edison Records in 1908...
", and "Memories".
Van Alstyne shares credit with Tony Jackson on the hit "Pretty Baby
Pretty Baby (song)
Pretty Baby is a song written by Tony Jackson during the Ragtime era. The song was remembered as being prominent in Jackson's repertory before he left New Orleans in 1912, but was not published until 1916....
". It was common for Tin Pan Alley publishers to add the name of one of their famous hit makers to tunes, and many have speculated this as being the main reason for Van Alstyne's name appearing on the piece, but Van Alstyne may have had a hand in writing or modifying the verse to Jackson's famous chorus.
He recorded a number of piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
s.
Egbert Van Alstyne lived for many years in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Egbert Van Alstyne was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
.