Henry W. "Harry" Armstrong Passes Away

Today in Masonic History Henry W. "Harry" Armstrong passes away in 1951.

Henry W. "Harry" Armstrong was an American composer.

Armstrong was born on July 22nd, 1879 in Somerville, Massachusetts. During his life he held a variety of jobs. He was a boxer, booking agent and producer. What he is most known for is being a singer, composer and pianist.

Armstrong was part of the crowd that would be known as Tin Pan Alley composers. Although the group of composers would take on that collective name, Tin Pan Alley was acutally a place in New York City. Tin Pan Alley stretched from West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan. Tin Pan Alley the people were a group of music publishers and composers who lived and worked in the area known as Tin Pan Alley.

Armstrong is probably best known for two pieces of work. One was the song "Sweet Adeline" which he wrote in 1903 with Richard Gerard who provide the lyrics. The other was in 1905, a sentimental ballad called "Nellie Dean." The song became the signature song of a British music hall singer named Gertie Gitana. Because of Gertie, the song became popular as a British pub song.

Armstrong passed away on February 22nd, 1951.

Armstrong was a member of Montgomery Lodge No. 68 in New York City, New York being raised in 1922. A decade later he would affiliate with John Stewart Lodge No. 871.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.