FAMOUS SONG RECALLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

FAMOUS SONG RECALLED.

" TA-RA-RA-BOOM-DE-AY."

DEATH OF THE AUTHOR. Mr. Henry Savers, author of the song "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay," ■which was made famous by Miss Lottie Collins in England and America over 40 years ago, died recently in New York of pneumonia. He was 77 years of age. At the time that Mr. Sayers -wrote the song he was the manager of a minstrel troupe, and he found his inspiration in a negro cabaret in St. Louis, .where a negro woman known as " Babe " Collings, sang Southern melodies.

" Babe " Collings had about one hundred verses with a chorus of " Ting-a-ling-a-ling-a-boom-de-ay," which was sung by a motley crowd. This was the basis of the song which became famous all over the world. It was introduced into a musical comedy, V Tuxedo," but failed to " catch on " until Miss Lottie Collins look it in hand.

Miss Collins first heard "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay " while on tour in America. In 1890 she sang it at the Tivoli Theatre with such overwhelming effect that Mr. George Edwardes at once made her an offer to cross the street every evening after her performance and entertain the patrons of the Gaiety with its lilting refrain in " Cinder-Ellen which was being played there. ( In the home of. the sacred lamp of burlesque the song was received with as much enthusiasm as it was on the other side of the road. Miss Lottie Collins came on attired as a meek and mild, and comely widow, who with a lightning kick and a mad swirl of her sombre skirt s ;sang the famous song as she danced round in a circle on the stage.

Miss Collins sang the song in America from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast at a salary of £2OO a week.