Mel Stitzel was a German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

-born pianist best known for his work with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings

New Orleans Rhythm Kings

The New Orleans Rhythm Kings were one of the most influential jazz bands of the early-to-mid 1920s. The band was a combination of New Orleans and Chicago musicians who helped shape Chicago Jazz and influenced many younger jazz musicians....

, a leading jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 band of the early 1920s. The leading members of the group including cornetist Paul Mares

Paul Mares

Paul Mares , was an American early dixieland jazz cornet & trumpet player, and leader of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.Mares was born in New Orleans. His father, Joseph E...

, trombonist George Brunis and clarinet player Leon Roppolo

Leon Roppolo

Leon Roppolo was a prominent early jazz clarinetist, best known for his playing with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Roppolo also played saxophone and guitar. Roppolo married Mabel Alice Branchard on 17 May 1920 in New Orleans...

 were school friends who recruited others such as Stitzel and drummer Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...

 to join their band.

At first, the band was known as the Friar's Society Orchestra after obtaining a gig at Friar's Inn

Friar's Inn

Friar's Inn was a nightclub and speakeasy in Chicago, Illinois, a famed jazz music venue in the 1920s.Though some sources refer to it casually as "Friar's Club", it was not related to the Friars Club of New York....

, but changed their name to the New Orleans Rhythm Kings after their residency ended. Mare is credited with co-writing several of their best known songs including "Tin Roof Blues

Tin Roof Blues

Tin Roof Blues is a jazz composition first recorded by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings in 1923. It was written by band members Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, Mel Stitzel, George Brunies and Leon Roppolo...

" in 1923. He also co-wrote the music to "Make Love to Me" for the group and which was a million-seller when revived by Jo Stafford

Jo Stafford

Jo Elizabeth Stafford was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards and occasional actress whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s...

 in 1954. The band also recorded with pianist Jelly Roll Morton

Jelly Roll Morton

Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....

on piano thus becoming the first multi-racial jazz band to record.

Stitzel cowrote "Doodle Doo Doo" with Art Kassel in 1924. He also wrote the music for "The Chant" in 1926 after the Rhythm Kings broke up in 1925.