Joseph E. Howard
Joseph Edgar Howard (February 12, 1870 – May 19, 1961) was an American Broadway composer, lyricist, librettist, and performer. A famed member of Tin Pan Alley along with wife and composer Ida Emerson as part of the song-writing team of Howard and Emerson, his hits included "Hello! Ma Baby" and Broadway musicals like "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now?".
Joseph E. Howard
Joseph E. Howard
February 12, 1870
New York City, New York, United States
May 19, 1961 (aged 91)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Musical theatre
Early years[edit]
Joseph Howard was born on February 12, 1870 (or 1871), in New York City. He grew up in a gang-terrorized part of the city and was frequently beaten by his father. His mother died when he was 8 years old, and he ran away to a Catholic orphanage, serving as an altar boy and singing in the choir. Avoiding his father, who had discovered the boy's place of refuge, he rode a freight train to Kansas City, Missouri. There he sang in a saloon and sold newspapers. It was in Kansas City that he was discovered by George Walker of Williams and Walker who arranged for Howard to receive voice training. From Kansas City, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he had his first taste of the theater.[1]
Legal controversy[edit]
After the release of the movie I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, Harold Orlob sued Howard, claiming that he had penned the tune when he worked for Howard in Chicago as a writer of additional songs for the musical The Prince of To-Night (1909). Orlob won his suit, which sought no compensation but asked to have Howard's name removed as the primary composer and his put on to the credits for the song as the lead composer.[8]
Awards and accolades[edit]
In 1970, Howard was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame[9] by the ASCAP Hall of Fame Committee.
Collaborating with songwriters such as wife Ida Emerson, Frank R. Adams, Will Hough and Harold Orlob, Howard produced such hits as:[10]
Howard also wrote the stage scores for:
Howard also wrote the music and lyrics for "Goodbye, My Lady Love", featured in the original production of Show Boat (1927).[13]
Howard also composed "It Won't Be Long Before We're Home".