Thomas P. Westendorf

Thomas Payne Westendorf (February 23, 1848 – April 19, 1923) was an American songwriter, composer, and educator. Westendorf wrote around 500 musical pieces and songs, but was most famous for his hit song, "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen." It was the only Westendorf song that lived long enough to receive rights protection renewal. It was republished many times throughout the years and sung by singers including Elvis Presley, Mitch Miller, Bing Crosby, and Johnny Cash. "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" was listed among the most popular American ballads in 1887, and gained recognition as one of the most beloved songs in music history. It was included in a number of musical collections and used in motion pictures, including Mrs. Parkington and Magic Town. It even made a brief appearance on an early episode of "Star Trek" (September 29, 1966).

Despite the fact that Westendorf became recognized in musical circles and received income from composing, he choose to continue his career in education.

As an educator, Westendorf occupied positions of a teacher, musical tutor, and superintendent in a number of reformatory schools across the U.S. His longest position was as superintendent at Chehalis Reform School. He was one of the first educators to start teaching music in reformatory schools. Westendorf led successful boy choruses, male quartets, and glee clubs in many institutions. His work at reform schools received mixed feedback and often drew controversy. On one hand, many children who studied under Westendorf's supervision were paroled and led successful lives. By some accounts, he managed public funds responsibly and the institutions under his management were praised as model schools. On the other hand, in many cases Westendorf was forced to resign his positions, and often moved from state to state. The reasons for his resignations were unclear, controversial, or accompanied by unspecified "charges."

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1848 (Bowling Green), Died 1923 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1912 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-14969 10-in. 6/18/1914 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Clarence Whitehill Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor C-14969 12-in. 7/2/1914 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Clarence Whitehill Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor CVE-14969 12-in. 6/23/1927 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Clarence Whitehill Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-14969 10-in. 6/30/1927 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Clarence Whitehill Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-19311 10-in. 2/26/1917 Up with the flag Mixed Quartet ; Lambert Murphy Mixed vocal quartet and male vocal soloist, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor B-24787 10-in. 1/12/1921 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Henry Burr ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor BVE-24787 10-in. 7/3/1925 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Henry Burr ; Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Victor B-27007 10-in. 10/4/1922 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Michel Gusikoff Violin solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-37921 10-in. 2/18/1927 Johnson's old grey mule Georgia Yellow Hammers Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo and monologue composer  
Victor BVE-40788 10-in. 12/19/1927 Sweet bird West Virginia Night Owls Male vocal duet, with violin and guitar lyricist  
Victor PBVE-42097 10-in. 3/16/1928 I'll take you back home again, Kathleen Robert Olsen Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-46050 10-in. 7/3/1928 Going back to Dixie Peg Moreland Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) composer  
Victor BVE-46923 10-in. 8/21/1928 Watermelon smilin' on the vine Johnny Marvin Male vocal solo, with guitar (self-accompaniment) and violin composer  
Victor CVE-49461 12-in. 7/15/1929 De watermillion song Major Alfred J. Stover Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-49856 10-in. 2/14/1929 Sweet fern Carter Family Vocal and instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BVE-59982 10-in. 5/24/1930 The little log hut in the lane Carter Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and autoharp lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-76289 10-in. 6/17/1933 Gold watch and chain Carter Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and autoharp lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-76712 10-in. 6/17/1933 Gold watch and chain Carter Family Mixed vocal trio, with guitar and autoharp lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-81393 10-in. 2/14/1934 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Bradley Kincaid Male vocal solo, with guitar lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-027639 10-in. 9/29/1938 Tell him to come back, sweet fern Charlie Monroe’s Boys Male vocal duet, with mandolin and 2 guitars lyricist, composer  
Victor BS-057005 10-in. 10/17/1940 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-065240 10-in. 5/8/1941 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Frederick Hufsmith ; Lew White Organ solo, with violin, harp, male vocal solo, and vocal ensemble lyricist, composer  
Victor PD6VB-2333 10-in. 6/11/1946 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Donald Dame ; Russ Case Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 47251 10-in. 12/21/1916 Dar de ole sarpent was a-crawlin' Harry C. Browne ; Knickerbocker Quartet Male vocal solo and male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist, composer  
Columbia 37376 12-in. 8/23/1915 I'll take you home again, Kathleen Oscar Seagle Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Westendorf, Thomas P.," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108095.

Westendorf, Thomas P.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108095.

"Westendorf, Thomas P.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108095

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