Vandersloot Music Publishing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music publishing |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founder | Frederick William Vandersloot, Jr., Caird Melvill Vandersloot |
| Defunct | 1931 |
| Headquarters | Williamsport , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Frederick William Vandersloot, Jr., Harry James Lincoln, Cora E. Vandersloot, Frank Hoyt Losey |
| Products | Marches, waltzes, rags, sacred compositions, popular music from Tin Pan Alley era |
Vandersloot Music Publishing Company was a U.S.-based publisher known for its focus on marches, waltzes, rags, sacred compositions, and popular styles from the Tin Pan Alley era. Established in 1899 by Frederick William Vandersloot, Jr. (1866–1931) alongside his brother Caird Melvill Vandersloot (born 1869), the business operated out of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. F. W. Vandersloot was recognized as a gospel vocalist, composer, and choir conductor. By 1913, the company maintained its main office at 233 West 3rd Street in Williamsport, with an additional branch located at 41 W 18th Street in New York City, close to Tin Pan Alley.
For many years, Harry James Lincoln fulfilled the roles of composer and general manager. Cora E. Vandersloot, born Elwert (1869–1944) and spouse of F. W. Vandersloot, also contributed as president and manager. In 1929, Lincoln purchased a portion of the company and transferred its operations to Philadelphia while continuing to use the Vandersloot name. After the passing of F. W. Vandersloot in 1931, the company ceased operations; a significant part of its catalog was subsequently acquired by Jack Mills, a publisher based in New York.
Frank Hoyt Losey, known as a composer and editor-in-chief, was another individual connected with Vandersloot Music Publishing Company.
Vandersloot composers and lyricists
- Carl Donaldson Vandersloot
- Charles Cohen (1878–1931), composer of rags
- Robert Nathaniel Dett
- Charles E. Duble, composer for circus bands
- Raymond B. Egan, lyricist
- Stephen Foster
- Joseph E. Howard, lyricist
- Harry J. Lincoln (also known under pseudonyms Abe Losch, Carl Loveland, & Harry Jay)
- Frank Hoyt Losey
- Raymond A. Sherwood, lyricist
- Andrew B. Sterling, lyricist
- Charley Straight, jazz pianist
Family
On January 20, 1898, Frederick William Vandersloot, Jr. wed Cora E. Vandersloot (née Elwert). Together they had four children: two sons and two daughters. Among them, Carl Donaldson Vandersloot (1898–1963) and Ruth Person Vandersloot (1904–1989) contributed compositions to Vandersloot Music. In 1920, Ruth married Author Taylor Eaker and composed music under the alias Ruth V. Hoyt, a name inspired by Frank Hoyt Losey, the company's editor-in-chief.
External links
- Frederick W. Vandersloot history, researched by Susan Attalla (born 1948) with assistance from the Lycoming County Historical Society.