MUSICAL GOLD MINES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 142, 16 June 1923, Page 20

MUSICAL GOLD MINES

Many fortunes have been made in a few minutes by song writing. If a song "catches on," it proves a gold-mine to somebody, although not always 'to the author and meopos'/r (says the "Sydney Sun"). "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and " Her Golden Hair is Hanging Down Her Back " were great money-makers, for the profits in each case fell little short of £20,000. In the same class must be included such songs as "The Bogy Man," "In the Shade of the Old' Apple Tree," and " After the Ball." Some of the best sellers, have been the result of but a few minutes' actual work, such'as "Sing Me to Sleep," which was composed in ton minutes. Tosti's " Dear Heart " was the work of two days, while Balfe wrote "Killarney " in a few. minutes. " Queen of My Heart" is sui'l to have made four substantial fortunes, and in one year to have earned £40,000, yet under the title of " Old "Dreams " it had been on sale for years before it "catight on." For "Come Into t.hn Garden, Maude," tho composer received iio more than £100, and the composer of "Kathleen Mavourneen" was rewarded with only a fivepound note.