Percy Wenrich (January 23, 1880 – March 17, 1952) was an American composer of ragtime and popular music. He is best known for writing the songs "Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet" and "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose", along with the rag "The Smiler". For more than 15 years, Wenrich toured with his wife, vaudeville performer, Dolly Connolly; for whom he wrote several hit songs, including "Red Rose Rag", "Alamo Rag" and "Moonlight Bay". He was known throughout his lifetime as "The Joplin Kid".
Personal life and career
Percy Wenrich was born in Joplin, Missouri to Daniel Wenrich and Mary Ray (née). Although various documents differ in their claims of Wenrich's birth date, He published his first musical work at age 17 titled L’Inconnu, which Wenrich called "a two-step with a fancy title." He continued to study organ with Louis Falk. Wenrich began working for the McKinley Music Company as a melody writer; as well as at Gimbel's Department Store selling sheet music. In 1903, Wenrich began writing ragtime works, the first of which was titled "Ashy Africa". Several other rags followed, including "Peaches and Cream" (1905), "Persian Lamb Rag" (1908), "Ragtime Chimes" (1912); but it was "The Smiler" (1907), subtitled "A Joplin Rag", which became his best-selling rag without lyrics. "That Alamo Rag" and "Moonlight Bay", which he wrote especially for Connolly. Wenrich recalled writing the tune in Atlantic City, New Jersey: "It was a swell night, with the moon streaming over the ocean. Just as I ordered another beer I thought I heard some guy ask the orchestra to play a piece called 'Moonlight Bay.' I was mistaken; they hadn't requested it, for the reason there was no such song, but I got to thinking what a swell title it would make and went home to work it." Actor and comedian George Burns performed "Red Rose Rag" throughout his career. A review in the 1916 Toronto World wrote of the pair: "Decided favorites in their offerings of new songs, written by Percy Wenrich, were Dolly Connolly and the composer himself. A number sung for the first time in Toronto, 'Sweet Cider [Time],' which is both catchy and musical, proved the 'hit' of the performance. Composer and singer had to respond to several recalls and an encore was insisted upon…”
In the early 1920s, Wenrich and Connolly moved to The Lambs Club on West 44th Street in Manhattan.