American songwriter, entertainer and pioneer of ragtime music
For the American actor, see Ben Harney (actor).
Ben Harney, from cover of 1896 sheet music
Benjamin Robertson Harney (March 6, 1872 – March 2, 1938) was an American songwriter, entertainer, and pioneer of ragtime music. His 1896 composition "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" is the second ragtime composition to be published and the first ragtime hit to reach the mainstream. The first Ragtime composition published was La Pas Ma La written by Ernest Hogan in 1895. It has been disputed by many historians on whether or not, "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" was released in late 1895 or early 1896. On the front cover of "You've Been a Good Old Wagon but You Done Broke Down" , it is listed as being copyrighted on 1895. However, on the first page, it is listed as being copyrighted in 1896. During the early years of Harney's career, he falsely promoted himself as being the inventor of ragtime and never acknowledged the genre's black origin. Many contemporary musicians criticized him for it.[1] Although ragtime is now probably more associated with Scott Joplin, in 1924 The New York Times wrote that Ben Harney "Probably did more to popularize ragtime than any other person."[2]Time magazine called him "Ragtime's Father" in 1938.[citation needed]
^Kleber, John E., editor. The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky, 2001. p.369. "His 'You've Been A Good Old Wagon, but You've Done Broke Down' (1895, Greenup Music Co., Louisville) was the first composed ragtime song." Web link.
^"Ragtime Origin From Viewpoint of Fred Stone". The Financial Pages. The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 20, 1924. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
Robertson Harney, "Father of Ragtime" BenHarney In Context BenHarney sheet music 01 BenHarney sheet music 02 BenHarney on Victor Records BenHarney at the...
originally starring Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, BenHarney, Cleavant Derricks, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Obba Babatundé, the musical...
cities across the country. At this time, the production also featured BenHarney as the Tin Man and Ken Prymus as the Lion. Prymus was known to audiences...
1895. It was written by minstrel comedian Ernest Hogan. Kentucky native BenHarney composed the song "You've Been a Good Old Wagon But You Done Broke Down"...
(Ethelbert Nevin & Frank L. Stanton, 1901) "Mister Johnson, Turn Me Loose" (BenHarney, 1896) "My Blue Heaven" (Walter Donaldson and George Whiting, 1927) "Now's...
Zero Mostel James Naughton Jerry Orbach Mandy Patinkin David Hyde Pierce Ben Platt Martin Short Robert Weede Patrick Wilson Tom Wopat 3 wins Pseudolus...
included Renee Harris as Dorothy, Charles Valentino as the Scarecrow, BenHarney as the Tin Man, Ken Prymus as the Cowardly Lion, and Butterfly McQueen...
Ginnie Hattie Winston Monica Pege Adrienne Walker William Samuel E. Wright BenHarney Joshua Henry Carole Jackie Lowe Theresa Hayes Tracee Beazer Daddy Bates...
Afrika". Composer Alexander Scriabin marries pianist Vera Ivanovna. BenHarney – BenHarney's Rag Time Instructor "Asleep In The Deep" w. Arthur J. Lamb...
Linden, Ann Miller, Robert Preston, Jason Robards, Ginger Rogers, Gary Sandy, Ben Vereen. Some of Broadway's theatres were being demolished (the Morosco, Helen...
Le Roi Carotte, London production Thespis, London production March 1 – BenHarney, American composer and ragtime pianist (d. 1938) March 4 – Henri Delépine...
Lena Hall Michael C. Hall George Hamilton Carol Haney Christopher Hanke BenHarney Barbara Harris Julie Harris Neil Patrick Harris Richard Harris Sam Harris...
Callender "Hastings Street" – Blind Blake "The Hat He Never Ate" – composer: BenHarney; lyricist: Howard S. Taylor "Hello Chicago Fox-Trot", 1933 – composer:...
women and families to attend. His theater featured performers such as BenHarney presenting a new style called "ragtime" as well as other up-and-coming...
Ezell (1892–1963) Blind Leroy Garnett (1897–1933) Gene Greene (1881–1930) BenHarney (1872–1938) Ernest Hogan (1865–1909) Dick Hyman (1927–) Tony Jackson (1876–1921)...
Lawrence, English novelist, poet, playwright, and critic (b. 1885) 1938 – BenHarney, American pianist and composer (b. 1871) 1939 – Howard Carter, English...
Global Information