Joseph P. Skelly

Joseph Paul Skelly, also abbreviated J. P. Skelly, (29 July 1850 – 23 June 1895) was a composer of music. He arranged the music for songs published as sheet music. For other songs he composed the words and music. The Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection at Johns Hopkins University has sheet music for many of the songs he composed. Skelly was born in Ireland and died in New York City. He wrote more than 1,000 songs. His song “Little Darling, Dream of Me” was recorded by the Climax Quartet on Climax Records (an early Columbia Records label). He wrote the song “A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother”. It was sung by William Raymond of Thatcher, Primrose and West’s Minstrels. Vernon Dalhart recorded the song at Columbia Records in 1925. He wrote the 1876 comical Irish musical sketch The Hash Brigade. Recorded works *“Aint You Awful! (1874) *“He Isn’t a Marrying Man” (1875) *“Dat Gay Old Nigger Ball”(1875) https://www.loc.gov/item/2023823638/ *“Fifth Avenue George” (1876) *“My Pretty Red Rose” (1877) *“I Should Say So!” (1877) *“My Love’s a Big Drum Major” (1877) *“Why Did They Dig Ma’s Grave So Deep?” (1880) *“Goldilocks, Grandpa’s Darling. Ballad.” (1880) *“Keep the Horseshoe Over the Doo