J. A. Raynes

John Arthur Raynes, more commonly referred to as J. A. Raynes, (born 1870 – died sometime after 1916) There he married his first wife Martha Irene Beazeall on 7 July 1892. He later married the actress Marta Golden in 1910 in San Jose, California. They divorced in 1915. Raynes first came to prominence as a composer writing the score to the musical burlesque Little Casino which premiered at the roof performance space of Broadway’s Casino Theatre on 2 August 1897. He then was hired by Bob Cole to work as the musical director and arranger for his musical At Jolly Coon-ey Island; beginning an international tour of that work in March 1898. He continued to tour nationally as conductor and composer with Kolb and Dill through 1912; also writing the score to the musical The Politicians (1912) for the pair. His song output included “The Suburban: Characteristic March and Two-Step” (1902, music by Raynes); “Helen of Helena” (1906, music by Raynes, lyrics by Howard Herrick), “The Feegee Man” (1907, words and music by Raynes), “Easy Money” (1908, words and music by Raynes), “I Only Thought I’d Ask You” (music by Raynes, lyrics by Edward Boltwood), “Flirting” (music by Raynes and lyrics by Leo Cu