Paul Dresser as he appeared on the 1897 back cover of the sheet music for "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away"
Born
(1857-04-22)April 22, 1857
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
Died
January 30, 1906(1906-01-30) (aged 48)
New York City, U.S.
Resting place
St. Boniface Cemetery, Chicago
Occupations
Songwriter
actor
playwright
composer
musician
Awards
Songwriters Hall of Fame
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.
PaulDresser (born Johann Paul Dreiser Jr.; April 22, 1857 – January 30, 1906) was an American singer, songwriter, and comedic actor of the late nineteenth...
The PaulDresser Birthplace is located in Fairbanks Park in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, at the corner of First and Farrington Streets. Listed on...
had a younger brother, William Lambert Kerlin. Dresser took her professional last name from PaulDresser, who was a friend of her father. Upon finding...
and composers from Indiana also reached national acclaim, including PaulDresser, whose most popular song, "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away", was...
thirteen children (the ninth of the ten surviving). PaulDresser (1857–1906) was one of his older brothers; Paul changed the spelling of his name as he became...
songwriter PaulDresser and singer Sally Elliot. It was based on a biographical essay, sometimes erroneously referred to as a book, by Dresser's younger...
Away" (PaulDresser 1897) "Over There" (George M. Cohan, 1917) "Peg o' My Heart" (Fred Fisher and Alfred Bryan, 1913) "Shine Little Glow Worm" (Paul Lincke...
Louise Schafter Max Ehrmann (1924). PaulDresser: Composer of 'On the Banks of the Wabash' A Sketch PaulDresser Memorial Assoc. Terre Haute Max Ehrmann...
Dresser Industries was a multinational corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, United States, which provided a wide range of technology, products...
The Dresser is a 1980 West End and Broadway play by Ronald Harwood, which tells the story of an aging actor's personal assistant, who struggles to keep...
subject of the state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" by PaulDresser. Two counties (in Indiana and Illinois); eight townships in Illinois...
Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-28. Henderson, Clayton W. "PaulDresser". Indiana Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21...
Markers by County". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2012-03-15. Birthplace of PaulDresser (1859-1906), Indiana Historical Bureau, n.d. Accessed 2012-03-14. Chauncey...
Tilzer "The Blue and the Gray (or A Mother's Gift to Her Country)" w.m. PaulDresser "Bridge Of Sighs" w.m. James Thornton "Calligan – Call Again!" w.m. Herbert...
Lee Yossele Rosenblatt as himself "My Gal Sal" (music and lyrics by PaulDresser; dubbed by unknown singer with Bobby Gordon onscreen) "Waiting for the...
marriage. Tedi is the grandniece of novelist Theodore Dreiser and composer PaulDresser. Godard is a member of Mensa International. Joel Godard at IMDb Retrieved...
(Ackley), was Kentucky-born and of Swiss heritage. An older brother, Marcellus Paul Mature, died of osteomyelitis in 1918 at age 11. His only sister, Isabelle...
My Gal Sal (1942) – musical film about 1890s composer and songwriter PaulDresser and singer Sally Elliot Native Land (1942) – biographical drama film...
Putman/Billy Sherrill 19670914September 14, 1967 Chained to a Memory My Gal Sal PaulDresser 19610531May 31, 1961 Both Sides of an Evening 2:50 My Little Yellow Bird...
resembles the famous 1897 song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" by PaulDresser. Russia portal Soviet Union portal Music portal List of number-one adult...