Nathaniel Davis Ayer (August 5, 1887 – September 19, 1952) was an American composer, pianist, singer and actor. He made most of his career composing and performing in England in Edwardian musical comedy and revue. He also contributed songs to Broadway shows, including some of the Ziegfeld Follies.
Ayer was born Nathaniel Davis in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] His first big hit was the song "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" (1911), with words by A. Seymour Brown (1885–1952). He wrote songs for Broadway revues and musical comedies including Miss Innocence (1908), The Newlyweds and their Baby (1909), Ziegfeld Follies of 1909,The Echo (1910), A Winsome Widow, The Wall Street Girl, Let George Do It (all 1912) and Ziegfeld Follies of 1916.[1][2]
Ayer first visited London as a member of the Ragtime Octet in the years before the First World War.[1] In 1912 he contributed to the West End revue Hullo, Ragtime the song "You’re My Baby" with words by Brown.[1] In 1913 he appeared at the Tivoli music hall in the Strand, with Harry Williams, performing songs of their own composition, with Ayer at the piano.[3] Later in the same year, the two appeared in The Hippodrome Revue, when The Times described them thus:
Mr. Harry Williams and Mr Nat D. Ayer are an American pair of a type now becoming familiar to London. One sings, one plays the piano and sings; both wear pronounced evening dress, and both perform ragtime. For complicated syncopation perhaps one of the songs sung by the gentleman at the piano is (in ragtime's native idiom) "the limit".[4]
One of Ayer's and Williams's songs, "That Ragtime Suffragette", was the subject of a court case in October 1913, when the lyricist and composer successfully took action to prevent others from violating its copyright.[5]
Ayer's post-war shows were Baby Bunting (1919), Snap, Shufflin' Along and The Smith Family (1922). In 1938 he was declared bankrupt.[10] He appeared as himself in the 1943 film Variety Jubilee.
Ayer died in 1952 in Bath, in the west of England, at the age of 65.[1]
Notesedit
^ abcdefgLarkin, Colin (ed.) ""Ayer, Nat D.", Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Muze Inc and Oxford University Press, 2009, accessed 31 January 2012 (subscription required)
^"Nat D. Ayer", The Guide to Musical Theatre, accessed 1 February 2012
^"Contact". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 16 September 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 20 April 2020 – via Trove.
^"New Plays and Revues", The Times, 5 June 1916, p. 13
^"Longest Running Plays in London and New York", Stage Beauty, accessed 1 February 2012.
^"From The London Gazette", The Times, 29 January 1938, p. 20
External linksedit
Nat D. Ayer sings 'Cleopatra' from Pell Mell, London, 1916 on YouTube
Nat D. Ayer sings 'I Like a Place Where the Peaches Grow' from Houp La!, London, 1917 on YouTube
Sheet music for "Oh, you beautiful doll", New York : J.H. Remick, 1911. From Wade Hall Sheet Music Collection
December 15, 2023
ayer, nathaniel, davis, ayer, august, 1887, september, 1952, american, composer, pianist, singer, actor, made, most, career, composing, performing, england, edwardian, musical, comedy, revue, also, contributed, songs, broadway, shows, including, some, ziegfeld. Nathaniel Davis Ayer August 5 1887 September 19 1952 was an American composer pianist singer and actor He made most of his career composing and performing in England in Edwardian musical comedy and revue He also contributed songs to Broadway shows including some of the Ziegfeld Follies Ayer in Houp La 1916Ayer s most successful shows were the World War I hits The Bing Boys Are Here 1916 and Yes Uncle 1917 His best known Broadway song was Oh You Beautiful Doll 1911 Of his many songs composed for London shows his most famous is probably If You Were the Only Girl In the World 1916 After the war he had less success and was declared bankrupt in 1938 Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Early years 1 2 West End shows 2 Notes 3 External linksLife and career editEarly years edit Ayer was born Nathaniel Davis in Boston Massachusetts 1 His first big hit was the song Oh You Beautiful Doll 1911 with words by A Seymour Brown 1885 1952 He wrote songs for Broadway revues and musical comedies including Miss Innocence 1908 The Newlyweds and their Baby 1909 Ziegfeld Follies of 1909 The Echo 1910 A Winsome Widow The Wall Street Girl Let George Do It all 1912 and Ziegfeld Follies of 1916 1 2 Ayer first visited London as a member of the Ragtime Octet in the years before the First World War 1 In 1912 he contributed to the West End revue Hullo Ragtime the song You re My Baby with words by Brown 1 In 1913 he appeared at the Tivoli music hall in the Strand with Harry Williams performing songs of their own composition with Ayer at the piano 3 Later in the same year the two appeared in The Hippodrome Revue when The Times described them thus Mr Harry Williams and Mr Nat D Ayer are an American pair of a type now becoming familiar to London One sings one plays the piano and sings both wear pronounced evening dress and both perform ragtime For complicated syncopation perhaps one of the songs sung by the gentleman at the piano is in ragtime s native idiom the limit 4 One of Ayer s and Williams s songs That Ragtime Suffragette was the subject of a court case in October 1913 when the lyricist and composer successfully took action to prevent others from violating its copyright 5 West End shows edit In 1916 Ayer composed the music for the hit show The Bing Boys Are Here with a book by George Grossmith Jr and Fred Thompson and lyrics by Clifford Grey 6 His best known song from that show is If You Were the Only Girl In the World 1 adapted from a song by Willy Redstone which he had sold to Bert Feldman 7 In the same year Ayer appeared with Alice Delysia in the revue Pell Mell with songs by Ayer and Grey 8 Ayer s last show of 1916 which he composed and appeared in was the musical comedy Houp La starring Gertie Millar 1 It was not a success running for just over 100 performances but Ayer s next show Yes Uncle was a considerable hit with a run of 626 performances 9 Ayer s post war shows were Baby Bunting 1919 Snap Shufflin Along and The Smith Family 1922 In 1938 he was declared bankrupt 10 He appeared as himself in the 1943 film Variety Jubilee Ayer died in 1952 in Bath in the west of England at the age of 65 1 Notes edit a b c d e f g Larkin Colin ed Ayer Nat D Encyclopedia of Popular Music Muze Inc and Oxford University Press 2009 accessed 31 January 2012 subscription required Nat D Ayer The Guide to Musical Theatre accessed 1 February 2012 The Theatres The Times 3 March 1913 p 10 The Hippodrome Revue The Times 11 April 1913 p 8 High Court of Justice The Times 18 October 1913 p 3 Varieties The Times 6 May 1916 p 6 Contact The Sun Sydney New South Wales Australia 16 September 1946 p 1 Retrieved 20 April 2020 via Trove New Plays and Revues The Times 5 June 1916 p 13 Longest Running Plays in London and New York Stage Beauty accessed 1 February 2012 From The London Gazette The Times 29 January 1938 p 20External links editNat D Ayer sings Cleopatra from Pell Mell London 1916 on YouTube Nat D Ayer sings I Like a Place Where the Peaches Grow from Houp La London 1917 on YouTube Sheet music for Oh you beautiful doll New York J H Remick 1911 From Wade Hall Sheet Music Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nat Ayer amp oldid 1166807664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
