The Joplin Kid

Born in Joplin, Missouri on January 23, 1887, Percy Wenrich became a successful and popular ragtime composer. In 1901 he enrolled in the Chicago Musical College. Known as "The Joplin Kid," Wenrich published Ashy Africa and Just Because I'm From Missouri. In 1905 his first major hit Peaches and Cream was published.

After several more successful songs, Wenrich acheived major success in 1909 when Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (lyrics by Stanley Murphy) sold more than two million copies. Wenrich penned several war related songs during World War I including Where Do We Go From Here?

Source

• The Parlor Songs Association, Inc. "Percy Wenrich." Accessed January 21, 2011. http://parlorsongs.com/bios/pwenrich/pwenrich.php