S.R. Henry

S.R. Henry (1874-1966), was an American composer of popular music, including marches and ragtime songs during the first half of the 20th century. His best known works included “The Colored Major”, “S.R. Henry’s Barn Dance”, “By Heck” and “Indianola”. He was later known as a theatre producer and musical contributor in New York City. Early life and education Henry (birth name, Henry Robert Stern) was born on June 23, 1874 in New York City, He received a Bachelor of Philosophy from Columbia in 1896. Career Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Joseph, as a publisher of music and salesman with lyricist Edward B. Marks, Henry began to publish his own compositions in the late 1890s. He adopted the title ‘S.R. Henry’ for his published works. One of his first known publications was “I’ll Be Your Friend Just the Same” with The Lyceum Publishing Co. in 1899. His first well known piece was the march and two-step, “The Colored Major”, published in 1900. This march was widely recorded in the early stages of the Victor Talking Machine Co. and competitor, Columbia Records. It was notably recorded by banjoist Sylvester “Vess” Ossman in 1901. It would be recorded by many other banjo play