ArtistInfo

Frederic Knight Logan

p, US
Musician / Composer

American composer, pianist, director, and instructor, known as "America's Waltz King." He gained fame with the "Missouri Waltz." (15 October 1871 — 11 June 1928) Logan was born in Oskaloosa, Missouri. His mother was soprano Virginia Knight Logan, who was widowed when her son was young. When she traveled the concert circuit, her son acted as her accompanist. He attended the College of Music in New York. He later worked for Jefferson de Angeles' Opera Company, which led to his appointment as musical director of a New York production of "The Wizard of Oz" before David Belasco hired him for his own theater. Logan later was musical director for actress Maude Adams, the original star of "Peter Pan." He also toured with her in "The Little Minister" and "Quality Street." "Missouri Waltz" came into existence in about 1912. Some people say Logan first heard the song from orchestra leader John Valentine Eppel of Fort Dodge, who had heard the tune from a black man in Missouri. Logan rearranged the melody into the song known today. The Forster Publishing Co. of Chicago obtained the rights in 1914, and added lyrics by James Royce Shannon.

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