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Born in Lymansville, Rhode Island on Febuary 9th 1884, Thomas Lodge (later going by his middle name “Henry“) would live out his life as the popular localized performer & pianist known for composing a number of characteristic waltzes, tangos & marches from a variety of forms. In spite of seemingly non-musical parentage, Thomas took well to the piano at an early age and was able to find employment right after high school demonstrating and selling pianos. Within a few years Thomas had already come to publish a few of his earliest pieces he had written on the side during his time as a piano salesman. By 1909, Lodge had already found himself taking interest into Ragtime right during it's peak, prompting the publication of his first rag “Temptation.“ Almost instantaneously becoming a hit in the stores and on the vaudeville circuit, the piece received accolades not only in the trades and the press, but from his peers as well. One such mention appearing in the New York Clipper in early 1910: “Mike Bernard, that “Wizard of the Piano,“ has in his repertory several numbers that possess excellent qualities. Noticeable among these is Henry Lodge's “Temptation Rag.“ The success of this number is remarkable, and fully supports its appropriate title, “Temptation,“ for it is positively one of the most tempting numbers that has yet been given the public...“ Soon afterwards with Lodge pursuing a career in music composition, “Sure Fire“ and “Red Pepper: A Spicy Rag“ had hit store shelfs, becoming major hits just as with “Temptation.“ Eventually moving himself to New York now under the name “Henry“ in 1912, Lodge had landed himself a job with famous dancing duo, Irene and Vernon Castle, becoming their lesson pianist at their ritzy dance studio. It was at that same studio some of his more complex dance numbers came about, starting in 1914. Also finding himself to play for some vaudeville outfits later on down the years, Lodge had began to work on more advanced ragtime that was much more harmonically complex than his earlier works. One of his longest-lasting works from this time frame is the enchanting Ragtime waltz “Geraldine,“ followed up with the less successful “Eveline: Geraldine's Sister“ two years later. Working solely free-lance for many years, usually through M. Witmark & Sons, Lodge had finally got himself a coveted contract with them in 1917, according to an article in the Music Trade Review on November 17: “M. Witmark & Sons have entered into arrangements with Henry Lodge to publish the latter's compositions exclusively for a term of years. The Witmark catalog already includes a number of Mr. Lodge's instrumental pieces, including the famous “Temptation Rag,“ “Black Diamond Rag,“ “Red Pepper Rag“ and many others. The popular “Geraldine Waltz“ is another of Mr. Lodge's well-known numbers.“ *Biography is continued in the pinned comment below.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Timestamps:* 0:00:00 - At the Ball: Piano Caprice (1904) 0:02:09 - Victorious Eagle: March (1904) 0:05:55 - Skylark: Intermezzo (1909) 0:10:22 - Temptation Rag (1909) 0:13:24 - Temptation Rag Song [Lyrics by Louis Weslyn] (1909) 0:17:47 - Ole South: Plantation Dance (1910) 0:21:31 - Red Pepper: A Spicy Rag (1911) 0:24:33 - The Roulette Reel: A Parisian Prance (1911) 0:28:07 - Voice of the Cello: Waltz [With Leon Rogee] (1912) 0:33:09 - Black Diamond Rag (1912) 0:36:34 - Tokio Rag (1912) 0:39:18 - Tango Land (1912) 0:42:37 - Moonlight Rag (1913) 0:45:58 - The Egyptian Trot (1914) 0:48:29 - Fascination: Valse d' Hesitation (1914) 0:51:42 - Oh You Turkey! (1914) 0:54:23 - The Boston Stop: Waltz (1914) 0:58:36 - Demi-Tasse: One Step-Castle Walk (1914) 1:01:10 - Silver Fox: A Raggy Fox Trot (1915) 1:04:02 - Geraldine: Valse Hesitation (1915) 1:08:53 - Hill and Dale: Syncopated Fox Trot (1915) 1:12:34 - Gum Drops: Novelty Two-Step (1915) 1:16:14 - Remorse Blues (1917) 0:20:29 - Making Cider: A Rube Rag (1918) 1:23:10 - Misery Blues (1918) 1:26:31 - Hifalutin Rag (1918) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music composed by Thomas H. Lodge & performed by Adot Legallo, Don Beavers, Christina Pepper, Bill Edwards, Phillip Sear & Toni Wilkinson. This video is solely for the purposes of compiling and sharing the music of Thomas H. Lodge and in no way or means is being used for monetary purposes.
