Carrie Jacobs-Bond

Carrie Minetta Jacobs-Bond (August 11, 1862 – December 28, 1946) was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter who composed some 175^[1] pieces of popular sheet music from the 1890s through the early 1940s.

She is perhaps best remembered for writing the parlor song "I Love You Truly", becoming the first woman to sell one million copies of a song.^[2] An enduring favorite as a wedding song, it first appeared in her 1901 collection Seven Songs as Unpretentious as the Wild Rose, along with "Just Awearyin' for You", which was also widely recorded.^[3] Jacobs-Bond's song with the highest number of sales immediately after release was "A Perfect Day" in 1910.^[4] A 2009 August 29 NPR documentary on Jacobs-Bond emphasized "I Love You Truly" together with "Just Awearyin' for You" and "A Perfect Day" as her three great hits.^[5] Jacobs-Bond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.^[6]

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Music career 3 Published works 3.1 Sheet music 3.2 Song books 3.3 Autobiography 3.4 Poetry 4 Notes 5 External links

Personal life

Carrie Minetta Jacobs was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Dr. Hannibal Jacobs and his wife, Emma Davis Jacobs. A distant cousin of "Home Sweet Home" (also a parlor song) lyricist John Howard Payne,^[7] she was born in the house of her maternal grandparents at the corner of Pleasant Street (now Court Street) and Oakhill Avenue.

Her father died while she was a child, and the family faced financial difficulties without him. During her short-lived first marriage to Edward Smith, her only child, Frederick Jacobs Smith, was born.^[8] This marriage ended in divorce in 1887. Her second marriage was to her childhood sweetheart, Dr. Frank Lewis Bond of Johnstown, Wisconsin, in 1888. They lived in Iron River, Michigan, where she was a homemaker and supplemented the family income with painted ceramics, piano lessons, and her musical compositions.^[2] When the economy of the iron mining area collapsed, the family doctor had no money.^[2] Struck by a child's snowball, Dr. Bond fell on the ice, and died five days later from crushed ribs. His wife was left with debts too large to be absorbed by the $4,000 in proceeds of his life insurance, and returned to Janesville. Selling ceramics, renting out a room, and writing songs did not produce enough money to pay her bills, so she slowly sold off her furniture and ate only once per day.^[9]

After achieving some success with her composing, she and her son moved to Chicago to be closer to music publishers.^[2] Soon she found that people enjoyed her simple and lyrical music.^[10] Her lyrics and music exemplified extreme sentimentality, which was intensely popular at that time.^[2] Because Jacobs-Bond's attempts to have her music published were repeatedly turned down by the male-dominated music industry of the day, she resorted to establishing her own sheet music publishing company in 1896. As a result, she was one of very few women in the industry and perhaps the only one to own every word of every song she wrote.^[11] To ease the pains of her rheumatism, in the early 1920s she and her son moved to Hollywood, California, where she continued performing and publishing. Jacobs-Bond died in her Hollywood home of a heart attack. She is buried in the "Court of Honor" at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Carrie Jacobs-Bond also published books of children's poetry and an autobiography and drew the artwork for her sheet music covers. The wild rose, her trademark artwork, appears on many of her publications. Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover wrote in her epitaph: "Beloved composer of 'I Love You Truly' . . . and a hundred other heart songs that express the loves and longings, sadness and gladness of all people everywhere . . . who met widowhood, conquered hardship, and achieved fame by composing and singing her simple romantic melodies. She was America’s gallant lady of song."^[4] The Los Angeles City Council honored her as "one of America’s greatest women."

Music career

Carrie Jacobs-Bond studied piano with area teachers while a child. A performer named "Blind Tom" toured the country, instantly memorizing any song played to him and then playing it back. After his part of the program, young Jacobs was prodded to go to the piano. She awed the crowd by playing back Blind Tom's song.^[2] She began writing music in the late 1880s when encouraged by her husband to "put down on paper some of the songs that were continually running through my mind."^[4] After her return from Iron River, Michigan, and the death of her second husband, she took up residence at 402 East Milwaukee Street, Janesville, Wisconsin, where she wrote the song "I Love You Truly".

A young female singer who lived across the hall from Jacobs-Bond had to leave unexpectedly, so she asked Jacobs-Bond to entertain her manager and another man. When the two men arrived, Jacobs-Bond invited the men into her apartment. The manager, Victor P. Sincere, saw some of her manuscripts lying around and asked whether she had written them. After Jacobs-Bond said yes, Sincere asked her to perform a song;, so she played "I Love You Truly" for him. When he asked whether she would like to have the song performed in public, she answered "no" because she had not copyrighted the song, and someone could steal it. Jacobs-Bond had second thoughts, so she went to the telephone at the corner drugstore and called opera star Jessie Bartlett Davis, even though they had never met. Jacobs-Bond hoped that Davis would make the song as popular as she had "Oh Promise Me" (by Reginald De Koven and Clement Scott) in 1898. Davis volunteered to pay the cost to publish Seven Songs as Unpretentious as the Wild Rose.^[9]

After moving to Chicago, Jacobs-Bond slowly gathered a following by singing in small recitals in local homes. She published her first collection with the help of opera star Jessie Bartlett Davis. Seven Songs: as Unpretentious as the Wild Rose, which was released in 1901, included two of her most enduring songs—"I Love You Truly" and "Just Awearyin' for You".^[12] The success of Seven Songs allowed Jacobs-Bond to expand her publishing company, known as the Bond Shop, which she had originally opened with her son in her apartment in Janesville.^[2] Before the end of 1901, David Bispham augmented Jacobs-Bond's celebrity by giving a recital of exclusively Jacobs-Bond songs in Chicago's Studebaker Theatre.^[10] Within a few years, Jacobs-Bond performed for Theodore Roosevelt, gave a recital in England (with Enrico Caruso), and a series of recitals in New York City. Shortly before the death of African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), Jacobs-Bond collaborated with him, publishing five songs with lyrics by Dunbar and music by Jacobs-Bond.

In 1910 she published "A Perfect Day", for which 25 million copies of the sheet music were sold.^[2] It was the most popular of her compositions during her lifetime^[2] although "I Love You Truly" was more frequently performed later.^[13]

During World War I Jacobs-Bond gave concerts in Europe for U.S. Army troops stationed there.^[14] "A Perfect Day" experienced special popularity with them.^[15]

Carrie Jacobs-Bond was the most successful woman composer of her day, by some reports earning more than $1 million in royalties from her music before the end of 1910.^[16] In 1941, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs cited Jacobs-Bond for her contributions to the progress of women during the 20th century.^[17]

Jacobs-Bond's life and lyrics serve as testimony to her resilience in overcoming hardships^[18] such as poverty, her father's death, her divorce, her second husband's death, and her only child's suicide in 1932 while "A Perfect Day" was playing on the phonograph.^[19]

Published works

Sheet music

Almost Impossible The Angelus At Morning, Noon and Night A Bad Dream Because I Am Your Friend Because of the Light Betty's Music Box. The Bird Song Birds The Blue Flag But I Have You California Chimney Swallows Come, Mr. Dream-maker, 1897 Compensation Consolation A Cottage In God's Garden The Crimson-Breasted Bird Cupid's Home The Dark Lament The Dear Auf Wiedersehn De Las' Long Res', 1901 Des Hold My Hands Tonight, 1901 Do You Remember, 1915 The Elopment The End of a Perfect Day Evening, My Love and You. First Ask Yourself The Flying Flag The Forget Me Not The Free Concert The Gate of Tears God Remembers When the World Forgets, 1913 Going to Church with Mother The Golden Key The Good Folk Good Night Got to Practice, 1917 The Hand of You Happy Lil Sal Have You Seen My Kitty? His Buttons Are Marked 'U.S.', 1902 His Lullaby Hollyhocks Homeland A Hundred Years from Now, 1914 Hush-a-by I Love You Truly, 1901 & 1906 I was Dreaming... Maybe If I Could Hear Your Voice Again I'm the Captain of the Broom Stick Cavalry, 1890 In a Foreign Land In Dear Hawaii, 1908

In My Garden In the Meadow, 1925 Is My Molly Dead?, 1895 Is Yo'? Yo' Is, 1905 I've Done My Work, 1920 Jesus Is Calling June and December Just Awearyin' for You, composed 1901; recorded by Evan Williams (1867–1918) Just by Laughing Just Lonesome Keep Awake Know and Find Lazy River Life's Garden The Lily and the Rose Linger Not A Little Bit O'Honey, 1917 The Little House Little Lost Youth of Me. A Little Pink Rose, 1912 A Little Shoe Lively Hour Long Time Ago Longing Look Up Love and Sorrow Lovely Hour Love's Sacred Trust The Lure May I Print a Kiss? Memories of Versailles Waltz A Memory Men and Women Morning and Evening Mother Mine Mother's Cradle Song, 1895 Mother's Three Ages of Man Movin' in de Bes' Soci'ty. My Dear My Garden of Memory My Son! My Soul The Naughty Little Girl Nothin' but Love! Nothing but a Wild Rose Now and Then O Haunting Memory. O Time Take Me Back, 1916 Old Friends of Mine Out in the Fields Over Hills and Fields of Daisies The Pansy and the Forget-Me-Not Parting, 1901

A Perfect Day, 1910 Play Make Believe Please Remember to Forget Robin Adair Roses Are In Bloom The Sandman, 1912 Shadows, 1901 A Sleepy Song Smile a Little Someone I Love is Coming A Song of the Hills The Soul of You Still Unexprest', 1901 Stop and Sing A Study in Symbols Sunshine (Po Li'l Lamb) Ten Thousand Time There Is a Way Through the Mists Through the Years, 1918 Time Make All but Love the Past Tis Summer in Thine Eyes To-Day. To My Valentine, 1926 To the Savior Called To the Victor (March) To Understand Trouble Two Lovers Tzigani Dances Until Death Until God's Day A Vision Walking in Her Garden Waltz of the Wild Flowers, 1916 The Way of the World We Are All Americans, 1918 Were I When Church is Out When do I Want You Most? When God Puts Out the Light When I am Dead, My Dearest When I Bid the World Goodnight When My Ships Come to Me When You're Sad When Youth's Eternal Who is True? Why Write to Me Often, Dear, 1896 Your Song

Song books

Eleven Songs, 1897 Mother's Cradle Song Write to Me Often, Dear Come, Mr. Dream-Maker The Pansy and the Forget Me Not Who is True June and December Someone I Love Is Coming Through the Mists Until Death Four Songs, 1899 A Little Shoe Have You Seen My Kitty? The Bird Song When My Ships Come Home Seven Songs as Unpretentious as the Wild Rose, 1901 Shadows (first line "Once more I sit at evening") w.m. Jacobs-Bond, pp. 3–5 Parting (first line "The light of morn is breaking") w. William Ordway Prestridge m. Jacobs-Bond, pp. 6–7 Just Awearying for You w. Frank Lebby Stanton m. Jacobs-Bond, pp. 8–9 De Las' Long Res' (first line "Lay me down") w. Paul Lawrence Dunbar m. Jacobs-Bond, p. 10 I Love You Truly w.m. Jacobs-Bond, p. 11 Still Unexprest (first line "Ah! 'tis but a dainty flow'r") w.m. Jacobs-Bond, pp. 12–13 Des Hold My Hands Tonight (first line "Some little children hear a song") w.m. Jacobs-Bond, pp. 14–15 Two Songs, 1902 May I Print a Kiss Two Lovers Twelve Songs, 1902 A Bad Dream I Was Dreaming... Maybe Linger Not Love's Sacred Trust Mother's Three Ages of Man Over Hills and Fields of Daisies The Dear Auf Wiedersehn Time Make All But Love the Past When I Am Dead, My Dearest When I Bid the World Goodnight Three Songs, 1904 Nothing But a Wild Rose The Angelus Walking in Her Garden

Ten Songs, 1905 In a Foreign Land Just By Laughing Men and Women My Dearest Dear When Do I Want You Most? Where to Build Your Castles Two Songs, 1907 Happy Lil Sal Trouble Half Minute Songs or Miniature Songs, 1910 Making the Best of It First Ask Yourself To Understand Doan' Yo' Lis'n How to Find Success The Pleasure of Giving Answer the First Rap A Good Exercise A Present From Yourself Now and Then When They Say the Unkind Things Keep Awake The Smile Songs, 1910 Know and Find Look Up Mother Mine Please Robin Adair Smile a Little Stop and Sing The Good Folk The Way of the World There Is a Way Why Almost Impossible Little Kitchen Songs and Stories, 1911 Thirty Songs: Songs Everybody Sings, about 1927

Autobiography

Jacobs-Bond, Carrie. The Roads of Melody: My Story. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1927. 224 pp.

Poetry

Jacobs-Bond, Carrie (1940). Palmer, Jamie. ed. The End of the Road. Hollywood, CA: George Palmer Putnam. ISBN 1419129422. 
Tales of Little Dogs (1921)

Notes

External links

• "America's First Great Woman Popular Song Composer" — Biography from ParlorSongs.com by Rick Reublein
• Video on Jacobs-Bond's career by Robin & The Giant on their program Notables.
• Guide to the Carrie Jacobs-Bond Collection, 1885-2001 at the University of Colorado at Boulder
• Carrie Jacobs-Bond collection, circa 1896-circa 1944 (Library of Congress)
• Carrie Jacobs-Bond in the Songwriters Hall of Fame from ASCAP
• Carrie Jacobs-Bond lyrics at the Lied and Art Song Texts Page
• Carrie Jacobs-Bond's gravesite from FindaGrave.com
• Carrie Jacobs-Bond at the Internet Movie Database
• Free scores by Carrie Jacobs-Bond in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
• Sheet music for "The Hand of You", 1920.
• Sheet music for "A Perfect Day", 1910.

Persondata
Name	Jacobs-Bond, Carrie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 11, 1862
Place of birth
Date of death	December 28, 1946
Place of death