# Abe Olman > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Abe_Olman > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Abe_Olman.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Olman > Source revision: 1352415115 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Abe Olman Born Abraham Olshewitz (1887-12-20)December 20, 1887 Cincinnati, Ohio, US Died January 4, 1984(1984-01-04) (aged 96) Rancho Mirage, California, US Occupations Songwriter, music publisher, music industry executive Instrument Piano Years active c.1905–1969 Musical artist **Abe Olman** (December 20, 1887[1][note 1] – January 4, 1984), born **Abraham Olshewitz**, was an American [songwriter](/source/Songwriter) and [music publisher](/source/Music_publisher_(popular_music)). He composed a number of successful [ragtime](/source/Ragtime) and [popular songs](/source/Popular_music) including "Red Onion Rag" (1912), "[Down Among the Sheltering Palms](/source/Down_Among_the_Sheltering_Palms)" (1915), "[Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!](/source/Oh_Johnny%2C_Oh_Johnny%2C_Oh!)" (1917), and "Down By the O-Hi-O" (1920). He was later director of [ASCAP](/source/ASCAP), and a founder of the [Songwriters Hall of Fame](/source/Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame) which, in 1983, named the annual Abe Olman Publisher Award in his honor. ## Career He was born in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati%2C_Ohio), the son of Julius and Carolina Olshewitz, who had been born in [Poland](/source/Poland) and [Germany](/source/Germany) respectively.[2] He learned [piano](/source/Piano) as a child, and in the early 1900s started work as a traveling music salesman around [Ohio](/source/Ohio), [Indiana](/source/Indiana) and [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky). His first compositions were published in Cincinnati in 1907, and then in 1909 in [Indianapolis](/source/Indianapolis), where he lived for a period. In 1912, he moved to [New York City](/source/New_York_City), where his "Red Onion Rag" was published by George W. Meyer.[1] He also spent time in Europe, performing in clubs in [London](/source/London) and [Paris](/source/Paris) before the outbreak of the [First World War](/source/First_World_War).[3] After returning to the US, he set up the LaSalle Music Publishing Company in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) in 1914, and published his own song, "Down Among the Sheltering Palms", with words by James Brockman.[4] He sold the song to New York publisher [Leo Feist](/source/Leo_Feist); it was performed and recorded by [Al Jolson](/source/Al_Jolson) and became a great success.[1] He continued to write prolifically, mainly with lyricist [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist)), and in 1917 they published "Oh Johnny, Oh!". The song was recorded in 1917 by both [Billy Murray](/source/Billy_Murray_(singer)) and [Nora Bayes](/source/Nora_Bayes). It was successfully revived in 1939 by [Orrin Tucker](/source/Orrin_Tucker) with singer ["Wee" Bonnie Baker](/source/Bonnie_Baker_(singer)), and by [The Andrews Sisters](/source/The_Andrews_Sisters),[1] and was recorded in 1959 by [Peggy Lee](/source/Peggy_Lee) on her album *[I Like Men!](/source/I_Like_Men!)*.[5] [*Candle Stick Rag*, 1910 sound recording of a composition by Olman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%22Candle_Stick_Rag%22_(1910),_by_Abe_Olman.oga) *Problems playing this file? See [media help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Media).* In 1920, Olman began working in Manhattan for the Forster music publishing firm, and became a member of ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Two of his songs were included in the 1920 [Ziegfeld Follies](/source/Ziegfeld_Follies), including "O-Hi-O (O-My!-O!)", with lyrics by [Jack Yellen](/source/Jack_Yellen), which was introduced by Al Jolson and which later (as "Down By the O-Hi-O") became a hit for the Andrews Sisters. Although he continued to write songs thereafter, he worked increasingly as an executive in the music industry. He became the secretary and general manager of Leo Feist, Inc. in 1935, holding the post until 1956, and also began working for the much larger firm of Robbins Music in the early 1940s. He is credited as being one of the first to see the benefits of promoting a song by placing it in a [motion picture](/source/Motion_picture), particularly by playing the [theme song](/source/Theme_song) under the [opening credits](/source/Opening_credits).[3] Olman was also director of ASCAP from 1946 to 1956.[1] In 1969, with [Johnny Mercer](/source/Johnny_Mercer) and [Howie Richmond](/source/Howie_Richmond), he co-founded the [National Academy of Popular Music](/source/National_Academy_of_Popular_Music)'s [Songwriters Hall of Fame](/source/Songwriters_Hall_of_Fame). In 1983, the Songwriters Hall of Fame established and named the annual Abe Olman Publisher Award in his honor.[1] ## Personal life He married actress Mattie Adele Parker (stage name Peggy Parker) in 1922; they had two daughters. In later life he moved to live in [southern California](/source/Southern_California). He died in [Rancho Mirage, California](/source/Rancho_Mirage%2C_California) in 1984, at the age of 96.[1] ## Songs - 1912 "Red Onion Rag"[2] - 1917 "Colleen Machree" - L: Jack Mahoney[6] - 1917 "Faugh-A-Ballagh (Fog-A-Bolla)" - L: [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist)))[6] - 1917 "I Wish You All the Luck in the World"[6] - 1917 "[Oh! Johnny Oh! Johnny Oh!!](/source/Oh_Johnny%2C_Oh_Johnny%2C_Oh!)" - L: [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist))[7] - 1917 "When I Get back to Home Sweet Home"[7] - 1918 "Meaning of YMCA You Must Come Across" - L: [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist))[6] - 1918 "Oh, Susie, Behave" - L: [Ed Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist))[7] - 1918 "Pick a Little Four-Leaf Clover (And Send It Over to Me)" - L: C. Francis Reiner and [Ed. Rose](/source/Ed_Rose_(lyricist))[7] - 1919 "Cootie Tickle, The (Over Here It's the Shimmie Dance)" - L: [Jack Yellen](/source/Jack_Yellen)[6] - 1919 "[Johnny's in Town](/source/Johnny's_in_Town)" with Geo. W. Meyer - L: [Jack Yellen](/source/Jack_Yellen)[6] - 1919 "[I'm Waiting for Ships That Never Come In](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I%27m_Waiting_for_Ships_That_Never_Come_In&action=edit&redlink=1)" - L: [Jack Yellen](/source/Jack_Yellen)[6] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Many sources state his birth year as 1888, but this appears to be an error. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ragpiano_1-6) ["Abraham (Olshewitz) Olman"](http://www.ragpiano.com/comps/aolman.shtml). *RagPiano.com*. Retrieved 2019-09-29. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) Edwards, Bill. ["Abraham (Olshewitz) Olman"](http://ragpiano.com/comps/aolman.shtml). *RagPiano.com*. Retrieved 2017-06-30. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rum_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rum_4-1) ["Information from ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, 1980, at Kevin Burke, *The "Rum and Coca-Cola" Reader*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120425062022/http://www.rumandcocacolareader.com/RumAndCocaCola/DOCS_OLMAN.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.rumandcocacolareader.com/RumAndCocaCola/DOCS_OLMAN.html) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-10-12. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-indiana_5-0)** [Indiana State Museum search results](http://www.indianamuseum.org/museumcollections/info.php?s=Abe+Olman&type=exact&t=objects) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120402185208/http://www.indianamuseum.org/museumcollections/info.php?s=Abe+Olman&type=exact&t=objects) April 2, 2012, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["I Like Men! - Peggy Lee | Songs, Reviews, Credits"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-like-men%21-mw0000849237). *AllMusic*. Retrieved 2019-09-29. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_7-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:1_7-6) Parker, Bernard S. (2007). *World War I Sheet Music - Volume 1*. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 77, 88, 131, 261, 325, 404. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-2798-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-2798-7). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_8-3) Parker, Bernard S. (2007). *World War I Sheet Music - Volume 2*. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 461, 464, 535, 775. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-2799-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-2799-4). ## External links - [Interview with Abe Olman, by Ian Whitcomb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al2YgMzyJ8g) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier)) - [Abe Olman recordings](https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106625) at the [Discography of American Historical Recordings](/source/Discography_of_American_Historical_Recordings). - ["Down by the O-Hi-O", sung by Billy Murray and Billy Jones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVz0t7r1-9c) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Italy Spain Greece Israel Belgium Artists MusicBrainz Discography of American Historical Recordings Other SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Abe Olman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Olman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Olman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.