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Tell Taylor

1876 – 1937

American songwriter, lyricist, traveling vaudeville performer, tenor vocalist, playwright, and music publisher (1876-1937).

Songwriter Music publisher
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About Tell Taylor

Lived 1876 – 1937 (aged 61). Tell Taylor was an American songwriter and music publisher.

Tell Taylor (aka Tellie Taylor also played the part of Bill Smith, a farm hand, in A Glimpse of Paradise, by Frank S. Pixley, a one-act play that often preceded the three-act By Wits Outwitted.

Music publishing and songwriting

Before launching his Chicago publishing firm in 1907, Taylor had co-founded one of the original Tin Pan Alley publishing houses in New York City with fellow composer, Ernest R. Ball, and former New York City Mayor who then was a state senator, James J. Walker. In 1918, Earl Kelly Smith (1886–1954), who had been affiliated with Taylor's Chicago publishing house since 1908, opened a branch in New York City. assigned on to Forster Music Publisher, Inc. "Rock Me To Sleep in an Old Rocking Chair" (©1926) "Little Old Home in the Valley," lyrics & music by Taylor & Al Bishop (pub. date unknown) "When the Southern Moon is Swinging Low," lyrics & music by Taylor and Fay (©1916)

Taylor Music Corp., Chicago "When The Sun Goes Down in Rainbow Land," lyrics by Taylor, music by Fred Rose. Arrangement by Harry L. Alford. (©1919)

Musical theater (vaudeville) Tiger Lillies In New York Town (1905)

Marriages Tell Taylor's Marriage License — 1907. Note that Buda Godman did not use her legal name Helen Julia Godman. On November 4, 1907, Taylor married Buda Godman (née Helen Julia Godman; 1888–1945),

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Chief executive officer
Also known as
Tell Roberts, Tellie, Tell

People in Tell Taylor's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tell Taylor's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tell Taylor?

American songwriter, lyricist, traveling vaudeville performer, tenor vocalist, playwright, and music publisher (1876-1937).

When was Tell Taylor born?

Tell Taylor was born on 14 October 1876 in Vanlue.

When did Tell Taylor die?

Tell Taylor died on 24 November 1937 in Chicago.

What was Tell Taylor's occupation?

Tell Taylor was a songwriter and music publisher.

What nationality was Tell Taylor?

Tell Taylor was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tell Taylor

· Wikidata: Q11218760

· DBpedia: Tell Taylor

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tell Taylor. https://biography.guide/tell-taylor/

MLA: "Tell Taylor." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tell-taylor/.

Chicago: "Tell Taylor." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tell-taylor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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