Ben M. Jerome

Benjamin M. Jerome (1881 – March 29, 1938), who also performed and published under the name Ben Jerome, was an American composer, lyricist, arranger, songwriter, pianist, and conductor whose career spanned popular music, ragtime, and the Broadway stage.

Jerome began his professional life in New York City, where he established himself as a Tin Pan Alley composer of popular music and earned recognition as a notable arranger of ragtime. His early stage work placed him among the many songwriters contributing to productions of the era, including Mam'selle 'Awkins in 1900. The following year he took on a more central role, providing both music and lyrics for The Supper Club. In 1902 he contributed two songs to The Wizard of Oz, and in 1903 his credits included The Darling of the Gallery Gods and The Dress Parade.

His Broadway output continued to grow through the mid-1900s. The Isle of Spice in 1904, on which he shared musical duties with Paul Schindler, appeared the same year as The Royal Chef. Jerome composed music for The Mimic World in 1908, a production on which Seymour Furth also contributed music, and that same year saw the staging of Mr. Hamlet of Broadway. He Came from Milwaukee followed in 1910, with Louis A. Hirsch sharing the musical composition credit.

Later in his career, Jerome collaborated with Philip Charig on the musical Yes, Yes, Yvette. The production premiered at the Four Cohans Theatre in Chicago on December 5, 1926, before reaching Broadway at the Sam H. Harris Theatre on October 3, 1927.

Following his years in New York, Jerome relocated to Chicago, where he served as music director of the La Salle Theater for twelve years. He died in Chicago on March 29, 1938, after a five-day illness.