Joseph's parents interrupted his high school training (at age 13) to send their boy to Paris, France, where he studied the violin for a year. Upon returning to the U.S. (1908), he completed his high school. After graduating, he worked in some retail stores, only to quit the retail business and to start playing his violin in a San Francisco Cafe. He served in the U.S.Army during WW1, and after discharge, went back to San Francisco, and the retail trade. In 1921, he went to New York City, where he made music his career. Success was not long in coming.
Joseph Meyer died after a log illness on June 1987, at the age of 93.
He is a member of The Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
During Vaudeville's hey day, Tin Pan Alley publishers would often supply singers to vaudeville acts, for the avowed purpose of plugging the publisher's tunes. Ned Miller toured with Jack Benny. Miller and Benny worked up an act that was similar to the one used by Benny and Dennis Day some years later on Benny's radio program. Still later, Miller was a 'Stand-in' for Benny on Benny's TV show.
Among his songs, were:
In 1893, he composed a ragtime two-step march "Rastus On Parade". This may have been the first commercial version of the Cakewalk dance. He moved to New York City in 1895, founded his own publishing firm, F.A.Mills Music, and published his own song, "Rastus on Parade". He went on to publish some more of his own songs that may have been instumental in popularizing syncopation with the Tin Pan Alley writers.
At the end of WW1, Mills no longer composed, but devoted all his time to his
publishing business. He died in Hawthorne, CA.
For historical reasons, here are some of the songs to which Irving Mills
appended his name, as lyricist
Joseph Meyer
b. March 12, 1894, Modesto, CA, USA. d. June 22, 1987, New York, NY, USA.
Overview
While Joe Meyer was actively composing throughout the 1920's and well into the 1940's, his greatest successes came during the 1920's era.
Brief Chronology:
1922 "My Honey's Lovin' Arms", Lyric Harry Ruby. His first hit.
(And again in Barbra Streissand's 1963 debut album.)
1922 "California, Here I Come", lyric Buddy De Sylva. This song was
interpolated into the Al Jolson Winter Garden Show, 'Bombo'.
1925 "Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley", lyric Ballard MacDonald
and Billy Rose.
(Later, the signature song for Charlie Kunz Orch.)
1925 Meyer Scored the Al Jolson show, 'Big Boy'
"If You Knew Susie", lyric Buddy De Sylva. This song was
actually written for Al Jolson, who had no good success.
So it was then given to Eddie Cantor, who did make it a
success.
Other songs by Joe Meyer are:
1925 For Broadway show (Andre) 'Charlot's Revue of 1925':
"A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich and You", lyrics Billy Rose
and Al Dubin.
1925 Other songs:
"Isn't It Heavenly", lyric by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg.
"Falling In Love WIth You", lyric by Benny Davis
"I Wish I Were Twins", lyric by Eddie De Lange and Frank
Loesser
"Meadows of Heaven", lyric by Joseph McCarthy, Jr.
1928 "Crazy Rhythm", was written with Roger Wolfe Kahn and lyric
help by Irving Caesar. It was the hit song in Broadway's
'Here's Howe'.
1930 Some of his songs were in the film, 'Remote Control'.
1931 For the film, 'Possessed', starred Joan Crawford & Clark Gable.
"How Long Will It Last?", lyric by Max Leif.
1934 This edition of Ziegfeld Follies had a few of his songs.
Mostly written with Billy Rose lyrics as special material
for the last of the Red Hot Mamas, Sophie Tucker.
1935 For the film, 'George White Scandals of 1935', he wrote:
"Oh, I Didn't Know"
"It's An Old Southern Custom". lyric Jack Yellen
"It's Time To Say Goodnight"
"I Got Shoes, I Got Shoesies"
"According To the Moonlight" lyric Yellen & Herb Magidson.
1936 For show 'New Faces of 1936', he wrote:
"It's High Time I Got The Low Down On You".
His other songs included:
"Dancing Sweeties"
"The Life of The Party"
"I Love You, I Hate You"
"Can It Be Possible?"
"Sweet So And So"
"Just a Little Closer"
"Isn't It Heavenly"
"I Wish I Were Twins"
"And Then They Called It Love"
"Hurry Home"
"I've Got A Heart Filled With Love"
"There's No Fool Like An Old Fool"
"Idle Gossip
"Watching The Clock'"
Some of his lyricist contributors included such well known men as:
Irving Caesar; Phil Charig; Al Dubin; Clif Friend; Douglas Furber. Eddie DeLange; Frank Loesser; Herb Magidson; Billy Moll; Billy Rose; Carl Sigman; Buddy De Sylva, and Jack Yellen.
Ned Miller
Currently no information available.
Chester Cohn was the manager of Leo Feist Music - New York. Ned Miller was the manager of Feist Music - Chicago. These two men often teamed to
write songs.
1926 "Sunday", written with Chester Cohn; Jule Styne, and Benny Kruger.
1929 "My Suppressed Desire", with Chester Cohn (aka Conn).
192? "You Don't Like It, Not Much", with Chester Cohn.
Kerry Mills
b. Feb. 1, 1869 Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. Dec. 5, 1948 Hawthorne, CA, USA.
né: Frederick Allen Mills
At age 6, he was studying violin. At age 23 (in 1892), he was head of the Violin Department in the Univ. of Michigan's Music School. In 1893, he
started to concertize.
1896 "Happy Days In Dixie"
1897 "Georgia Camp Meeting" was a big success.
1897 "Let Bygones be Bygones", lyric by Charles Shackford.
1899 "Mr Rufus" was a popular song originally published as a ragtime
piano piece. Later, W. Murdock Lind added the lyric.
1904 "Meet Me In St. Louis", was theme for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition
(And revived in the 1944 Judy Garland film of the same name.)
1904 "When The Bees Are In The Hive",lyric by Alfred J. Bryan
1907 "Take Me Around Again", lyric by Ed Rose
"Red Wing", lyric by Thurland Chattaway
1908 "Any Old Port In A Storm", lyric by Arthur J. Lamb
"The Longest Way 'Round Is The Sweetest Way Home", lyric Ren Shields.
Irving Mills
b. 1896, New York, New York, d. 1985
Overview
Irving Mills was most active during the 1920's and 1930's. He is mainly recalled today as a musical entrepreneur. He was a partner in the publishing firm of 'Mills Music' and at least four other companies (oft-times putting his own name on the music as 'lyricist'). He produced some movie musical shorts and radio shows. He was a band agent. His 'Mills Blue Rhythm Band' would often substitute for Duke Ellington or Cab Calloway, at Harlem's famed Cotton Club, when those bands were on the road. He boosted the recording careers of many singers, including those of Gene Austin and Rudy Vallee.
1931
"Mood Indigo"
"Minnie, the Moocher"
1924 "When My Sugar Walks down the Street"
1932 "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"
1933 "Sophisticated Lady"
1934 "Moonglow"
1935 "Solitude."