Karl Hoschna

Karl Hoschna (1876–1911) was a Tin Pan Alley-era composer and Broadway musical contributor whose works included the book and music for productions such as Bright Eyes, The Dream Girl, Dr. De Luxe, The Silver Star, and Jumping Jupiter. He is particularly remembered for three songs that became standards of the era: "Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine," "Every Little Movement," and "Yama Yama Man."

Born on August 16, 1876, in Kuschwarda, Bohemia, Hoschna received his musical training at the Vienna Conservatory of Music, where he specialized in the oboe and graduated with honors. Following his studies, he served as an oboist in the Austrian army band before emigrating to the United States in 1896. Upon his arrival, he joined the Victor Herbert orchestra as an oboe soloist. He eventually abandoned the instrument, citing a belief that the vibration produced by the oboe's double-reed was affecting his mental state. He subsequently took a position as a copyist at the Witmark Music Publishing Company, where his responsibilities expanded to include selecting songs for publication and working as an arranger.

Hoschna's Broadway career began in 1905 with Belle of the West and The Daughter of the Desert, followed by The Girl from Broadway in 1907. His 1908 production Three Twins proved particularly significant: it gave performer Bessie McCoy, known as "The Yama Yama Girl," her signature number "The Yama Yama Man," and also introduced "Cuddle Up a Little Closer." That same year he was inducted into Tin Pan Alley's Hall of Fame. Prince Humbug also opened in 1908, and The Silver Star followed in 1909. The year 1910 was especially productive, with Katy Did, Bright Eyes, The Echo, and Madame Sherry all reaching the stage. Madame Sherry introduced "Every Little Movement," and The Echo incorporated his song "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier Boy." His music also appeared that year in Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, though George M. Cohan was the production's principal composer; Hoschna was represented by a selection drawn from Madame Sherry. Jumping Jupiter and Dr. De Luxe both opened in 1911, as did The Girl of My Dreams.

Hoschna collaborated on these productions with a range of librettists and lyricists, including Otto Harbach, Harry B. Smith, Charles Noel Douglas, Mark Swan, Benjamin Hapgood Burt, and William C. Duncan, among others. His popular songs beyond the stage included "Bright Eyes," "Girl of My Dreams," and "The Mood You're In." After his death, his music continued to appear in new productions: "Yama Yama Man," with lyrics by Collin Davis, was used in the 1917 revue Miss 1917, and "Electricity," with lyrics by Harry B. Smith, was incorporated into the 1980 production Tintypes.

Hoschna died on December 23, 1911, in New York City, before he could complete the score for The Wall Street Girl, a production that featured Blanche Ring, her brother Cyril Ring, and Will Rogers, Jr. He was buried on December 26, 1911, at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, leaving an estate valued at $6,424. He was survived by his wife, Hettie Hug, and their three daughters.