Harry von Tilzer

American Composer (July 8, 1872 to January 10, 1946).

Along with brothers Albert Von Tilzer and Will Von Tilzer, authored many popular compositions during the ragtime era.

He ran away and joined a traveling circus at age 14, where he made his new name by adding 'Von' to his mother's maiden name 'Tilzer'. He soon proved successful at playing piano and calliope and writing new tunes and incidental music for the shows. He continued doing this, writing many unpublished songs or selling them to entertainers for $1-2. In 1898 he sold his song "My Old New Hampshire Home" to a publisher, and it become a national hit.