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Paul Dresser

Paul Dresser (born Johann Paul Dreiser Jr.; April 22, 1857 – January 30, 1906) was an American singer, songwriter, and comedic actor of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dresser performed in traveling minstrel and medicine-wagon shows and as a vaudeville entertainer for decades, before transitioning to music publishing later in life. His biggest hit, "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" (1897), was the best selling song of its time. Although Dresser had no formal training in music composition, he wrote ballads that had wide appeal, including some of the most popular songs of the era. During a career that spanned nearly two decades, from 1886 to 1906, Dresser composed and published more than 150 songs. Following the success of "Wabash", many newspapers compared Dresser to popular composer Stephen Foster. "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" became the official song of Indiana in 1913. The Paul Dresser Birthplace in Terre Haute is designated as a state shrine and memorial. Dresser was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Dresser grew up in a large family (including his brother, novelist Theodore Dreiser) and lived in Sullivan and Terre Haute, Indiana. He had a troubled childhood and spent time in jail. Dresser left home at age sixteen to join a traveling minstrel act and performed in several regional theaters before joining John Hamlin's Wizard Oil traveling medicine-wagon show in 1878. Dresser composed his first songs while working for Hamlin. He settled in Evansville, Indiana, for several years while continuing to work as a traveling performer and musician. Eventually, he became a nationally known talent and participated in several traveling acts, including The Two Johns, A Tin Soldier, and The Danger Signal. Dresser's songwriting talent developed during his years as a performer; he began by writing songs featured in his shows and later wrote and sold songs to others' acts. Dresser moved to New York City, and in 1893 Dresser joined Tin Pan Alley's Howley, Haviland and Company, a New York City sheet music publisher, as a silent partner. At the height of his success, Dresser was a nationally known entertainer, successful songwriter, and sheet music publisher. He was generous, especially to family and friends, and a lavish spender. The turn of the century brought him financial distress when his music fell out of style. In 1905 his music publishing business declared bankruptcy. He died the following year.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1857 (Terre Haute), Died January 31, 1906 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 117 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 187 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Just tell them that you saw me George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 189[a] 7-in. 4/17/1896 Just tell them that you saw me Artists vary Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 399 7-in. Before Feb. 1899 On the banks of the Wabash far away Mabel Casedy Female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 577 7-in. Apr. 1898 On the banks of the Wabash Annie Carter Female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 867 7-in. 11/15/1896 Just tell them that you saw me George J. Gaskin ; Mozart Quartet Male vocal solo, with male vocal quartet lyricist, composer  
Berliner 1784 7-in. July 1897-Mar. 1898 On the banks of the Wabash Artists vary Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 1936 7-in. 11/29/1895-12/14/1898 Sweet Savannah J. W. Myers Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 3428 7-in. 6/17/1898 On the banks of the Wabash far away Henry Higgins ; Arthur Pryor Cornet and trombone duet composer  
Berliner 4255 7-in. Mar. 1898 On the banks of the Wabash, far away Diamond Four Male vocal quartet composer, lyricist  
Berliner 055 7-in. 3/28/1899 On the banks of the Wabash far away George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 0109 7-in. Before June 1899 Sweet Savannah George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 01061 7-in. 3/10/1900 The blue and the gray Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Berliner 01143 7-in. 3/23/1900 The blue and the gray Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 01215 7-in. 4/17/1900 The blue and the gray Joseph Natus Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 01218 7-in. 4/17/1900 In good old New York town Joseph Natus Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 01222 7-in. 4/17/1900 Sweet Savannah Joseph Natus Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]83 7-in. 6/11/1900 The blue and the gray Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]164 7-in. 7/21/1900 The blue and the gray Arthur Collins ; Metropolitan Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]204 7-in. 9/14/1900 The blue and the gray Street piano "Street" (barrel) piano composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]515 7-in. 11/15/1900 When the moon comes up behind de hill S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]677 7-in. 2/16/1901 There is no North or South to-day Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]677 10-in. 2/16/1901 There is no North or South to-day Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]678 7-in. 2/16/1901 I'd still believe you true Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]678 10-in. 4/29/1903 I'd still believe you true Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]680 7-in. 2/16/1901 Calling to her boy just once again Joseph Natus Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist, composer  
(Results 1-25 of 117 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dresser, Paul," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108958.

Dresser, Paul. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108958.

"Dresser, Paul." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108958

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