Robert Bache Smith
Encyclopedia
Robert Bache Smith usually published as Robert B. Smith, was an American librettist and lyricist
. His older brother, Harry B. Smith
, was also a successful lyricist and a writer and composer.
Born in Chicago, Smith began his career apprenticing with the famed vaudeville
duo Weber
and Fields
. He most notably wrote the lyrics to “Come Down, Ma Evenin' Star” from Weber and Fields' Twirly Whirly (1902; famously sung by Lillian Russell
). He went on to write libretti for operetta
s and lyrics for musicals, including such works as Fantana (1905), The Spring Maid (1910), Sweethearts (1913), and Angel Face (1919). His last work was The Girl in the Spotlight in 1920. He died in New York City at the age of 76.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
. His older brother, Harry B. Smith
Harry B. Smith
Harry Bache Smith was a writer, lyricist and composer. The most prolific of all American stage writers, he is said to have written over 300 librettos and more than 6000 lyrics. Some of his best-known works were librettos for the composer Victor Herbert...
, was also a successful lyricist and a writer and composer.
Born in Chicago, Smith began his career apprenticing with the famed vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
duo Weber
Joe Weber (vaudevillian)
Joe Weber born Joseph Morris Weber was a vaudevillian who, along with Lew Fields, formed the comedy team of Weber and Fields....
and Fields
Lew Fields
Lew Fields , born as Moses Schoenfeld, was an American actor, comedian, vaudeville star, theatre manager and producer....
. He most notably wrote the lyrics to “Come Down, Ma Evenin' Star” from Weber and Fields' Twirly Whirly (1902; famously sung by Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th century and early 20th century, known for her beauty and style, as well as for her voice and stage presence.Russell was born in Iowa but raised in Chicago...
). He went on to write libretti for operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
s and lyrics for musicals, including such works as Fantana (1905), The Spring Maid (1910), Sweethearts (1913), and Angel Face (1919). His last work was The Girl in the Spotlight in 1920. He died in New York City at the age of 76.
Selected productions
- Twirly Whirly - musical, book written in 1902
- Breaking Into Society - musical, book and lyrics written in 1902
- The Spring Maid - musical, book and lyrics written in 1910
- The Rose Maid - musical, lyrics written in 1912
- The Girl from Montmartre - musical, lyrics written in 1913
- Lilac Domino - Broadway adaptation, written in 1914
- A Lonely Romeo - musical, lyrics written in 1919
- Sweethearts - musical, lyrics written for 1929 revival (also 1947 revival)