Billy Baskette

William James Baskette (October 20, 1884 – November 8, 1949) was an American pianist and composer who wrote popular songs of the Tin Pan Alley era.[1][2][3][4] He also wrote one of the most successful World War I war songs, "Good Bye Broadway, Hello France".

Baskette was born in Henderson, Kentucky.[5] His career in music began as a bassist in a circus band.[5] He also was involved in vaudeville performances as a dancer and a pianist. Later, he became a staff composer for various music publishing firms in Chicago and New York City.[6] He died in Culver City, California on November 8, 1949.

Baskette was a part of the Tin Pan Alley movement of music. In 1918, there was a focus on music called "goodbye songs" referring to U.S. soldiers who were deployed to France during World War I. One of Baskette's most notable works was "Goodbye Broadway, Hello France," which was a hit song of the period.[6]

  1. ^ "Billy Basket, 64, Pianist, Songwriter", The New York Times, November 11, 1949
  2. ^ The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music, Composers and Their Music, Supplement, by William H. Rehrig, Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1996 OCLC 24606813
  3. ^ The ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Third edition, New York: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, 1966 OCLC 598257
  4. ^ ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth edition, compiled for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, by Jaques Cattell Press, New York: R.R. Bowker, 1980 OCLC 7065938
  5. ^ a b Shearer, Benjamin F. (2007). Home front heroes : a biographical dictionary of Americans during wartime. Greenwood Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0313334207.
  6. ^ a b Shearer, Benjamin F., ed. (2007). Home front heroes: a biographical dictionary of Americans during wartime. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780313334207.