Walter Melrose

Walter Melrose (October 26, 1889– May 1973) was a music publisher and lyricist in the 1920s and 1930s.

Background

He was born in Sumner, Illinois, and was the brother of Lester Melrose, with whom he established a music store in Chicago.[1] This became successful after the Tivoli Theatre opened in the same street, greatly increasing the amount of passing trade. Melrose branched into music publishing when Jelly Roll Morton turned up in his store, and hits such as Wolverine Blues and King Porter Stomp became highly successful for the company. In 1926 he arranged a series of recordings for Victor Records by Morton's Red Hot Peppers, which have come to be regarded as landmarks of early jazz. He later parted company with Morton acrimoniously, and stopped paying him royalties for his compositions.

Major publications

He and his brother published the jazz standard "Tin Roof Blues" composed by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings" in 1923. He also wrote the lyrics to that song.

Melrose added lyrics to many existing jazz compositions that his company published, such as "Copenhagen". He established one of the major publishing companies with his brother, known as Melrose Brothers Music: The House That Blues Built.

Other publications

Melrose Music also published Glenn Miller's 125 Jazz Breaks for Trombone, Louis Armstrong's 125 Jazz Breaks for Cornet, and Benny Goodman's 125 Jazz Breaks for the Saxophone and Clarinet in 1928.

References
  1. Jelly's Blues: The Life, Music, and Redemption of Jelly Roll Morton, Howard Reich and William Gaines

Walter Melrose had contributed to many songs and lyrics and has a broad discography after he died. Walter Melrose died in May of 1973, in Lake Barington, Illinois. Officially, he was a music publisher but did receive credits for several songs with the original Dixieland jazz band, including the songs "High Society" and "Tin Roof Blues". Both were hits in the late 1950s. [1] The Music Goes Round And Round Eigenvertrieb / DSCMusic 2014001 Martinique 2007

Martinique Earworks.ch Piano Solo. Plays Blues And Ballads 2005

Piano Solo. Plays Blues And Ballads Jazz Connaisseur / JCCD 9107-2 Buona Sera New Orleans 2002

Buona Sera New Orleans Eigenvertrieb / TBH 602 For Louis 2000

For Louis Concord / CCD-4879-2 Jazz Club Trio - Plus 1995

Jazz Club Trio - Plus Elite Special / TCD 7935 Mo' Cream From The Crop 1994

Mo' Cream From The Crop Sony Music Entertainment Switzerland GmbH / CK 66628 Nothing But The Blues 1994

  1. "Radio Swiss Jazz - Music database - Musician". Radio Swiss Jazz.
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