Amy Ashmore Clark (May 6, 1882 – January 9, 1954) was a Canadian-born American songwriter, composer, and businesswoman, "equally popular and successful as a writer of lyrics for other people's music, and a writer music for other people's lyrics", despite being unable to read or write music.V. B. S.
"Amy Ashmore Clark: Composer, Lyric Writer, Business Woman"
''The Musical Observer'' (June 1922): 24. She also appeared in musical comedy and vaudeville, worked in music publishing, and at several magazines.

Early life

Amy Ashmore was born in

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Career

Clark wrote songs in various genres: hymns, ballads, novelties, "every kind of song except ragtime", noted one publication. She did not read or write music, but she did play piano. She was a member of

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

. Titles of her songs (either as lyricist or composer) included "The Flowers are Calling, Sweetheart", "My Rosary for You", "Where You Are is Paradise", "Long Lost Mama, Daddy Misses You", "Toys are Not Only for Children", "And So Your Soul was Born", "With Love He Cleanses Every Sin", "Laddie Dear", "Rockabye Rose", "The Heart of You", "Lambie Love" "I'm Telling the World That I Love You", "You and I", "To You", "Just a Cloud", and "I am One with Thee". One of her songs (co-written with

Florence Turner-Maley Florence Turner-Maley (August 23, 1871 – January 3, 1962) was an American composer, singer, and teacher. Florence Turner was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to William Hayward and Mathilde (Holwill) Turner. Her father had been a boy soprano. S ...

), "In a Little Town Nearby", was used in theatres during showings of the silent film ''

The Bond Boy ''The Bond Boy'' is a lost 1922 American silent drama film directed by Henry King and starring Richard Barthelmess. It was produced by Barthelmess and Charles Duell and released through Associated First National Pictures. Cast *Richard Barthe ...

''. Clark appeared in musical comedy and on

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

as a performer, and worked for music publishing companies. In 1918 she was described as the head of the concert department at Artmusic, Inc. She was also an advertising director, on the editorial board of the ''

Junior League The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (Junior League or JL) is a private, nonprofit educational women's volunteer organization aimed at improving communities and the social, cultural, and political fabric of civil society. With ...

Magazine'' and business manager of another magazine, ''The Younger Set.'' In 1931 she testified in court, in a scandal case involving theatrical manager

A. L. Erlanger Abraham Lincoln Erlanger (May 4, 1859 – March 7, 1930) was an American theatrical producer, director, designer, theater owner, and a leading figure of the Theatrical Syndicate. Biography Erlanger was born to a Jewish family

and his common-law wife, Charlotte Fixel.

Personal life

Amy Ashmore married a vaudeville performer, Alexander Clark. They had a son, Alexander Clark Jr. (1901-1995), who became an actor and, later, theatre editor at ''Vanity Fair'' magazine. Her husband died in 1932, and she died in 1954, aged 71 years, in New York City.

References

External links

* * Florence Turner Maley and Amy Ashmore Clark
"In A Little Town Near By"
(1921). ''Vocal Popular Sheet Music Collection.'' Score 3622, University of Maine. * William C. Polia and Amy Ashmore Clark
"My mother : (was the greatest gift that Daddy gave to me)"
(1920). ''Vocal Popular Sheet Music Collection.'' Score 1213, University of Maine. {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Amy Ashmore 1882 births 1954 deaths American women songwriters American women composers Musicians from Toronto People from Old Toronto Vaudeville performers ASCAP composers and authors Canadian emigrants to the United States