Geoffrey O'Hara (February 2, 1882 – January 31, 1967) was a Canadian-American composer, singer and music professor.
Early life
O'Hara was born in
Chatham, Ontario, Canada. He initially planned a military career. O'Hara entered the
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...
in
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the northeastern end of Lake Ontario. It is at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River, the south end of the Rideau Canal. Kingston is near the Thousand Islands, ...
at age 18 and he trained with the 1st Hussars. He had to abandon his military career upon the death of his father, Robert O'Hara.
Career
He moved to the United States in 1904, the same year he began performing in
Vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...
. He began recording for
Edison Records
Edison Records was one of the early record labels that pioneered sound recording and reproduction, and was an important and successful company in the early recording industry.
The first phonograph cylinders were manufactured in 1888, followed by ...
in 1905. In 1913 O'Hara undertook the recording of traditional Indian songs on behalf of the American government. He was recorded on
phonograph cylinder
Phonograph cylinders (also referred to as Edison cylinders after its creator Thomas Edison) are the earliest commercial medium for Sound recording and reproduction, recording and reproducing sound. Commonly known simply as "records" in their heyda ...
lecturing about the complexity of the music as well as singing and playing several types of
Navajo
The Navajo or Diné are an Indigenous people of the Southwestern United States. Their traditional language is Diné bizaad, a Southern Athabascan language.
The states with the largest Diné populations are Arizona (140,263) and New Mexico (1 ...
traditional songs in 1914. During
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he was a singing instructor of patriotic songs for American troops.
O'Hara lectured on music and songwriting and held positions at Teachers' College of Columbia University (1936–37), Huron College and the University of South Dakota, where he later received an honorary Doctor of Music degree in 1947. He lectured for the remainder of his life. In 1920, O'Hara helped organize The Composers' and Lyric Writers' Protective League. He also was a board member of the
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
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, broadc ...
(ASCAP), was the president of the Composers-Authors Guild, and served in the
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...
(USO).
He was a National Patron of
Delta Omicron
Delta Omicron () is a co-ed international professional music honors fraternity whose mission is to promote and support excellence in music and musicianship.
History
Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity was founded on September 6, 1909 a ...
, an international professional music fraternity.
Personal life
In 1919, he married Constance Dougherty from Massachusetts, and together they had two children; the same year, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Works
O'Hara composed over 500 popular and patriotic songs, and hymns. He had some moderate
popular music
Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training.Popular Music. (2015). ''Fun ...
hits in the 1910s with songs such as ''Your Eyes Have Told Me What I Did Not Know'' (1913), ''Tennessee, I Hear You Calling Me'' (1914), ''The Old Songs'', and ''
Over the Top: Military March'' (1917).
His one huge hit was his song
K-K-K-Katy
"K-K-K-Katy" is a World War I-era song written by Canadian-American composer Geoffrey O'Hara in 1917 and published in 1918. The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational Stuttering, Stammering Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors", a ...
(1918), one of the most popular tunes of the
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
era. It was sung in both World War I and World War II, occasionally as "K. K. K. K. P."
He was commissioned by the Wilson administration to compose the modern day version of the Star Spangled Banner.
Songs
* 1917 ''Give A Man A Horse He Can Ride'', Lyrics by James Thomson
* 1917 ''Give Three Loud Cheers'' with Samuel Stewart, Lyrics by Edith M. Gibbs
* 1917 ''Over The Top March''
* 1917 ''Send Me A Curl''
* 1917 ''Woman Who Waits At Home, The'', Lyrics b
Gordon Johnstoneref name=":1" />
* 1918 ''Aw Sammie!'', Lyrics by H.Sanborn
* 1918 ''I Don't Care Where They Send Me'', Lyrics b
Schuyler Greenref name=":0" />
* 1918 ''I Love The Merry Merry Sunshine'' with Francis Wheeler
* 1918 ''
K-K-K-Katy
"K-K-K-Katy" is a World War I-era song written by Canadian-American composer Geoffrey O'Hara in 1917 and published in 1918. The sheet music advertised it as "The Sensational Stuttering, Stammering Song Success Sung by the Soldiers and Sailors", a ...
''
* 1918 ''Over Yonder Where The Lilies Grow''
* 1918 ''Patriotism'', Lyrics by William Horatio Day
* 1918 ''South Will Do Her Part, The'', Lyrics by H. Sanborn
* 1919
Buddie Boy (How's Ev'ry Little Thing With You?)' with
Theodore Morse
* 1919 ''There Is No Death'', Lyrics b
Gordon Johnstoneref name=":1" />
* 1919 ''Two Little Stars'', Lyrics by T.E.B. Henry
* 1920 ''Get Up And Get Out'', Lyrics b
Gordon Johnstoneref name=":0" />
* 1925 ''Out Of The West'', Lyrics b
Gordon Johnstoneref name=":2" />
* 1928 ''Grace Before Meals'', Lyrics by Medomak Camp Boys
* 1931 ''God's Other Room'', Lyrics by Katharine Bainbridge
* 1931 ''There's A Light In The Window''
* 1931 ''Somewhere In The World''
* 1931 ''One More Song For Jesus'', Lyrics by Ina Duley Ogdon
* 1931 ''At The Rainbow's End''
* 1931 ''Let Him In''
* 1931 ''Drop A Little Letter In Your Heart''
* 1940 ''Nebraska, We'll Fight For You!'', Lyrics by Hale C. Cole
* 1942 ''Today Is Mine'', Lyrics by Ina Duley Ogdon
* 1942 ''Never Bite Off Any More Than You Can Chew''
* 1942 ''Limericks'', Lyrics by
Gelett Burgess
Frank Gelett Burgess (January 30, 1866 – September 18, 1951) was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. He was an important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his ico ...
See also
*
Music of Canada
The music of Canada reflects the diverse influences that have History of Canada, shaped the country. Indigenous Peoples, the Irish-Canadians, Irish, British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical Culture of Canada, herit ...
*
List of Canadian composers
This is a list of composers who are either native to the country of Canada, are citizens of that nation, or have spent a major portion of their careers living and working in Canada. The list is arranged in alphabetical order:
A
* John Abram ...
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
External links
Geoffrey O'Hara, composer, singer and lecturer (1882-1967)*
Geoffrey O'Hara recordingsat the
Discography of American Historical Recordings
The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohara, Geoffrey
1882 births
1967 deaths
Canadian emigrants to the United States
People from Chatham-Kent
Canadian vaudeville performers
American vaudeville performers
Canadian composers
Canadian male composers
20th-century Canadian male singers