He later noted that working in the department store kept him from working in “the district” - an area that was home to many brothels. He also worked in a Milwaukee department store’s music department where he published another song, Under A Tropical Moon. He composed various works including waltzes, songs, intermezzi and rags. While in Chicago, he worked for McKinley Music Company writing melodies for lyrics sent to McKinley. Interestingly perhaps, both titles were suggested to him by Frank Buck, a Chicago music publisher who went on to become a famous producer of African travel and adventure films. He continued his efforts in writing popular song and while in Chicago, succeeded in having two of his works published, Ashy Africa and Just Because I’m From Missouri.
Chicago Musical College was run by Florenz Ziegfield, Sr., the father of the Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. He continued to be interested in music and enrolled in the Chicago Musical College to be trained as a “serious” musician. Many of these songs were used locally at political rallies and conventions. Young Percy began writing his own melodies for which his father provided lyrics. He also performed for friends at the YMCA at 418 Main St. While he was busy working up music, he was employed as an assistant postal clerk by his father. He had a thousand copies printed, which he sold one at a time in the district. Percy published his first piece, titled “L’Inconnu,” in 1897 when he was 17. His father Daniel “according to a 1912 Globe article, for his musical ability as a quartet singer and “composer of campaign songs in the days of President William McKinley.” Percy’s mother, Mary, was an accomplished pianist and organist and his first teacher.” (1) He was later known as the “The Joplin Kid” due to his links to Joplin. Percy Wenrich was born on 23 January 1887 in Joplin, Missouri. I have to say that I truly am a fan of his and I have a playlist devoted to the music of Percy Wenrich. I am a fan of Ragtime music and remember playing Ragtime songs on the piano from the film The Sting. When I discovered my kinship to him, I sought out his music. He and his wife Dolly Connolly were Ragtime superstars in their own time! Actually, Percy Wenrich was a quite well-known composer of Ragtime and popular music of the time. We share ancestors Johann Matthias Wenrich (Weinrich) and Judith Schauer.Īlthough today most-likely only those that are fans of ragtime music or study music of this time period would recognize his name. Meaning that he and my great-grandfather Abraham G. He is my fourth cousin, three times removed. I have many historical and famous kin that descend from collateral lines, but I chose to write about my lesser-known Cousin Percy Wenrich. One way to take this week and month’s theme of branching out is to write about collateral relatives – those that share the same family descent as me but by a different line. The theme for February 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Branching Out.
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