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Egbert Anson Van Alstyne (March 4, 1878 – July 9, 1951) was an American songwriter and pianist. Van Alstyne was the composer of a number of popular and ragtime tunes of the early 20th century.[1]

Egbert Van Alstyne
Born	Egbert Anson Van Alstyne (1878-03-04)March 4, 1878 Marengo, Illinois
Died	July 9, 1951(1951-07-09) (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois
Occupation	Songwriter, pianist

Biography

Van Alstyne 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.[2] 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.[2]

He recorded a number of piano rolls.

Van Alstyne lived for many years in Chicago. He died there on July 9, 1951,[3] and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois.

Works, 1900–1920

Awards and honors

He was inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.[7]

References

Further reading

• Charosh, Paul, and Robert A. Fremont. Song Hits from the Turn of the Century: Complete Original Sheet Music for 25 Songs. New York : Dover Publications, 1983. ISBN 0-486-23158-5 OCLC 319031030
• Evans, P., and P. Lavender. Music for the Millennium: The Twenties A Century of Popular Song. London: Wise Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-7119-4431-8 OCLC 664575069
• Ewen, David. Popular American Composers from Revolutionary Times to the Present; A Biographical and Critical Guide. New York: H. W. Wilson Co, 1962. OCLC 335386
• Jasen, David A. Ragtime Gems: Original Sheet Music for 25 Ragtime Classics. New York: Dover, 1986. ISBN 0-486-25248-5 OCLC 317648743
• Songs with Music by Egbert Van Alstyne: Pretty Baby, in the Shade of the Old Apple Tree. [S.l.]: General Books, 2010. ISBN 1-158-48236-1 OCLC 669743015
• Studwell, William E. They Also Wrote: Evaluative Essays on Lesser-Known Popular American Songwriters Prior to the Rock Era. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8108-3789-7 OCLC 43526755
• Van Alstyne, Egbert, A. J. Mills, Harry Castling, Walter Emerson, and Fred Hallam. In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree: Parody. London: Francis, Day & Hunter, 1906. OCLC 49581075
• Van Alstyne, Egbert, and Gene Arnold. My Prayer for Today. [S.l.]: M. Witmark & Sons, 1949. OCLC 367497428

External links

Archives at
Location Library of Congress Source Egbert Van Alstyne Papers
How to use archival material

• Digital image of "On the Road to Home Sweet Home" in the Duke University Libraries Digital Collections
• "I'm Goin' Back to Oklahoma" in the Lilly Library Sheet Music Collection, Indiana University
• List of works by Egbert Van Alstyne in the Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections
• Free scores by Egbert Van Alstyne at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Egbert Van Alstyne at the Internet Broadway Database
• Egbert Van Alstyne at IMDb
• Egbert Anson Van Alstyne biography by Bill Edwards at Ragpiano.com
• Egbert Van Alstyne, Tin Pan Alley Pioneer
• Egbert Van Alstyne in the National Jukebox
• Egbert Van Alstyne recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.

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