Porter Steele
American lawyer and musician
About Porter Steele
Lived 1880 – 1966 (aged 85–86).
Porter Steele (December 12, 1880–December 20, 1966) was an American lawyer and musician, known as the composer of the march and later jazz standard "High Society".
He was born in Natchez, Mississippi, the son of Hiram Roswell Steele (1842–1929), who was Attorney General of Louisiana (1875-77) before moving to Natchez and then Brooklyn where he continued to practice as a lawyer. Porter Steele studied law at Yale University, graduating in 1902. Over time, the composition became a standard, recorded by both military bands and jazz bands, including those of Alphonse Picou, Charles A. Prince, and King Oliver. Steele's other compositions include "The Lobster's Promenade".
Porter Steele graduated from Columbia Law School, and practiced law in New York City until he retired in the 1930s.
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Important facts
People in Porter Steele's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Porter Steele's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Porter Steele?
American lawyer and musician
When was Porter Steele born?
Porter Steele was born in 1880.
When did Porter Steele die?
Porter Steele died in 1966.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Porter Steele. https://biography.guide/porter-steele/
MLA: "Porter Steele." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/porter-steele/.
Chicago: "Porter Steele." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/porter-steele/.
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