David Braham

David Braham (c.1834 – April 11, 1905) was a London-born musical theatre composer, most famous for his work with his son-in-law Edward Harrigan (1844-1911), and Tony Hart (1855-1891). He has been called “the American Offenbach”. Early life (1834–1873) David Braham was born in London in 1834. As a young man, he aspired to become a professional musician and began studying the harp. However, because he was unable to get his bulky instrument on board a stagecoach, he later switched to the violin. He proved to be an adept violinist, performing in concerts at a young age. The Braham family immigrated to New York City when David was 15. Upon arriving in New York, Braham began working as a violinist in the orchestra accompanying the Pony Moore Minstrels. He played in the pit orchestras of various New York auditoriums, headed an 18-piece orchestra at the New Canterbury concert saloon at 585 Broadway, produced by William Horace Lingard at the Theatre Comique in 1869. Braham’s success as a composer continued through the early 1870s, during which time he wrote numbers for such performers as James McKee, then-child star Annie Yeamans, and P. T. Barnum performer General Tom Thumb. In 1985, a mus