William Benton Overstreet (April 3, 1888 – June 23, 1935) was an American songwriter, bandleader and pianist in the early twentieth century. He was born in Atchison, Kansas. He directed McCabe's Georgia Troubadours in 1910, and by the mid-1910s was working in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, directing the Lyric Theatre Orchestra. A prominent bandleader of the period, he also ran a group backing the "Rag Shouters" with singer Estelle Morris in Chicago. By that time, he was using the word "jass" to describe his music. Karl Koenig, "History of the Blues - (55) 1920A", ''BasinStreet.com''
Retrieved 16 November 2016. He worked at the Grand Theatre in Chicago between 1916 and 1922, and then worked in Harlem and in touring shows in the 1920s. As a songwriter, Overstreet was rated by

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, Hug ...

as one of the "better poets of jazz". He wrote the tune "The 'Jazz' Dance" (or "That 'Jazz' Dance"), published by Will Rossiter in 1917, and recorded by

W. C. Handy William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958) was an American composer and musician who referred to himself as the Father of the Blues. Handy was one of the most influential songwriters in the United States. One of many musici ...

's Orchestra the same year, "That "Jazz" Dance", ''20sJazz.com''
Retrieved 16 November 2016. the first known occurrence of the word in a song title. He also collaborated on songs with James "Slap Rag" White, and with Billy Higgins, with whom he composed the hit song "

There'll Be Some Changes Made "There'll Be Some Changes Made" ("Changes") is a popular song by Benton Overstreet (composer) and Billy Higgins (lyricist). Published in 1921, the song has flourished in several genres, particularly jazz. The song has endured for as many years ...

", published in 1921 and first recorded by Ethel Waters. The song was widely recorded, by

Marion Harris Marion Harris (born Mary Ellen Harrison; April 4, 1896 – April 23, 1944) was an American popular singer who was most successful in the late 1910s and the 1920s. She was the first widely known white singer to sing jazz and blues songs.Ward, Elija ...

Fats Waller Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz pi ...

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

, Bob Wills,

Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...

, Billie Holiday, and others. Overstreet was working as a music teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1930, and continued to make recordings as a piano accompanist into the early 1930s. "Songmasonry: There'll Be Some Changes Made", ''Locust St.'', July 16, 2009
Retrieved 16 November 2016. He died on June 23, 1935, in New York.

References

External links

W. Benton Overstreet (composer)
at Discography of American Historical Recordings
Benton Overstreet at ''Worldcat.org''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Overstreet, William Benton 1888 births 1935 deaths American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists 20th-century American pianists Songwriters from Kansas People from Atchison, Kansas 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians American male songwriters