Born February 24th 1874 in Sioux Falls of South Dakota, George Botsford would become a prominent figure during the early wake of the commercial Ragtime market that dominated the US music world from 1907-1910. A man who knew how to write catchy tunes the public liked, George spent his formative years in the Midwest, specifically in Iowa where he would a fair amount of formal musical training in his youth and proved to be a natural performer.

There was a great deal of pre-ragtime style and influence in this region, as evidenced by the amount and quality of ragtime that eventually emerged from Iowa and Nebraska, so it is likely he was exposed to quite a bit of it, influencing his unique writing style. Listed in the 1900 enumeration as a "Theatrical Pianist," it was likely expected of him to know some of the latest ragtime tunes and cakewalks during the time. It would be during this period where the young George would meet and marry singer Della Mae Wilson, the daughter of a music teacher with whom they resided with for a time in Centerville, Iowa, later moving back to Clermont.

Both finding themselves to be quite the musical duo, Botsford & Della Mae set out on the road with the Hoyle Stock Company in Nashville, Tennessee, ultimately spending 34 weeks from 1900 to 1901 with the troupe. During that stint, the Botsfords may have also ventured to New York City in February 1901, as they placed an "At Liberty" ad in the New York Clipper:

"George Botsford, Pianist, Director and Arranger, Della Mae Wilson, Comedy Parts, Character and Singing Specialties with Monologue. Address Geo. Botsford, Clermont, Iowa."

Throughout the remainder of 1901, their Summer was spent in Champaign, Illinois, where George directed the orchestra at Casino Theatre while Della Mae worked with the Bennett Stock Company. That fall, the duo would once again be back on the road upon joining the Van Dyke & Eaton Company for another successful trip across the states, ending May 1902. Taking that particular summer off, the Botsfords finally relocated their base to New York City in late 1902 where they would stay for the remainder of George's career, appearing to have done one more season with Van Dyke & Eaton before settling for good by the summer of 1903. While there may have been hopes of a career for Della Mae in the big city, ultimately it was George who became the entertainer of the family.

Some of the earliest mentions of him after their move was as a pianist for events held by the Fort Greene Council in February and November 1904, as an organist at the Brooklyn Lodge of Elks for a large memorial service in December, and then as a vocal director for a large politically based performance at the Monroe Club the following year. By 1906, George was able to establish his foothold as a composer with a couple of songs published by the New York firms of M. Witmark and Sons and Tin Pan Alley giant Jerome H. Remick, later on participating in a July 4th "Pop Concert" on Long Island, playing along with several other entertainers including the Edgemere Club Orchestra. By the spring of 1907, Botsford found himself to become part of a show called "The Haymakers" presented in various venues around the New York City area, eventually securing steady work as an arranger and composer for Remick for the next decade after having made a local name for himself as a entertainer & composer.
*Biography is continued in the pinned comment below.*
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*Timestamps:*
00:00 - Klondike Rag (1908)
03:17 - Black and White Rag (1908)
06:12 - Old Crow Rag (1909)
08:47 - The Pianophiends Rag (1909)
11:22 - Texas Steer Rag (1909)
14:10 - Chatterbox Rag (1910)
16:26 - Grizzly Bear Rag (1910)
19:49 - Royal Flush: A Rag (1911)
22:21 - Honeysuckle Rag (1911)
24:56 - Hyacinth Rag (1911)
27:50 - Rag, Baby Mine (1913)
30:30 - The Buck-Eye Rag (1913)
34:38 - The Incandescent Rag (1913)
36:52 - Boomerang Rag (1916)
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Music composed by George James Botsford, performed via midi sequencing, Adam Ramet & Charlie Rasch.

Music description provided & written by Bill Edwards
© 1998-2024 Bill Edwards

This video is solely for the purposes of compiling and sharing the music of George James Botsford and in no way or means is being used for monetary purposes.

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