Harry B. Smith

American writer, lyricist (librettist) and composer (December 28, 1860, Buffalo, NY – January 1, 1936). The most prolific of all American stage writers, 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. He also wrote the book or lyrics for several versions of the Ziegfeld Follies. In addition, Smith played a crucial role in adapting and popularizing foreign musicals in America, enabling a significant influence of writing and composing styles on American shows. He worked with most of the major composers in American between 1880 and 1920 His stage scores include those for The Begum, Don Quixote, Robin Hood, The Algerian, Rob Roy, The Wizard of the Nile, The Serenade, The Highwayman, The Fortune Teller, Ziegfeld Follies (1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1912), Little Nemo and many more. He wrote i.a. "The Sheik Of Araby". Charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); on the board of directors, 1914-1917. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.