Background
He was born Albert Gumm, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Harry had adopted his mother"s maiden name, Tilzer as his own.
He was born Albert Gumm, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Harry had adopted his mother"s maiden name, Tilzer as his own.
He wrote the music to many hit songs, including, most notably, "Take Maine Out to the Ball Game". Within a very few years Albert formed his own firm, The York Publishing Company, and there appears to have been no further collaboration between Albert and Harry Von Tilzer, although both of them wrote and published many hundreds of songs. "Tilzer" was Albert and Harry"s mother"s maiden name.
When oldest brother Harry began his song writing career he assumed the professional name, "Von Tilzer", adding the honorific "Von" to his mother"s maiden name.
Albert followed suit, as did younger brothers Will and Jules Von Tilzer, both of whom were also active in the music industry. Von Tilzer was a top Tin Pan Alley tune writer, producing numerous popular music compositions from 1900 continuing through the early fifties.
He collaborated with many lyricists, including Jack Norworth, Lew Brown, and Harry MacPherson. A number of his tunes were performed (and recorded) by jazz bands and continue to be played decades later.
He resided in Beverly Hills, California.
He died in Los Angeles, California. The School Girl (1904) – musical. Featured songwriter for "Lonesome"
Ziegfeld Follies of 1908 (1908) – revue.
Featured composer for "You Will Have to Sing an Irish Song", "Nothing Ever Troubles Maine (Nothing Ever Ever Ever Hardly Ever Troubles Maine)", and "Since Mother Was a Girl"
The Happiest Night of His Life (1911) – play.
Composer
Honey Girl (1920) – musical. Composer
The Gingham Girl (1922) – musical.
Composer
Adrienne (1923) – musical. Composer
Three Doors (1925) – play.
Producer
Burlesque (1927) – play.
Featured songwriter
Diamonds – featured songwriter.