You might want to have President Harry Truman's favorite song --- and Missouri's official state song --- playing in the background as you read. Cue "The Missouri Waltz."
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Frederick Knight Logan, widely known as "the waltz king of America," died at his home in Oskaloosa at midnight Tuesday. He had been suffering from paralysis for several years, but had shown improvement until the last few days, when he suffered a relapse.
Made famous by his works, "the Missouri Waltz," the "Blue Rose Waltz," and "Pale Moon," Logan's career was at its height when paralysis first claimed him. Several of his compositions were left unfinished when he suffered his first stroke.
He started his musical career as an assistant director with the Jefferson de Angelis Opera Company in New York. Later, he directed Montgomery and Stone in "The Wizard of Oz" and several of the plays of Mrs. Leslie Carter at the Belasco theater.
A tour with Maude Adams in "The Little Minister," "Peter Pan," and "Quality Street" were also included in his work. His last professional engagement was as director for Chauncey Olcott for whom he composed the incidental music for "Ragged Robin" and "Macushla."
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Mr. Logan never achieved the level of fame reached by, say, Mason City's Meredith Willson, but I did find a 1963 article written by Don Brown for the Educational Features Syndicate and headlined "Iowan known as Waltz King" in that city's Globe-Gazette of Aug. 10, 1963. So here is more about this south of Iowa native:
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On the shady lawn of a fine old home in Oskaloosa stands a monument that pays tribute to an Iowan who once lived in that house and spent his time writing songs. And the songs this man wrote became so popular he became well-known throughout the country, mingled with the famous in the musical world and in the twilight of his career was hailed as "America's Waltz King."
Frederick Knight Logan was destined to become a musician. Born in Oskaloosa in 1871, Logan became the pride and joy of his musical mother, Virginia Knight Logan. Mrs. Logan, who became a widow when Frederick was very young was a talented coloratura soprano opera singer and teacher of voice and harmony.
Mrs. Logan frequently went on tours with musical companies and when Frederick became older he accompanied his mother. During these trips Frederick began to develop an interest in music. Encouraged and trained by his mother, young Logan seriously took up the study of music.
After graduation from Oskaloosa High School, Logan attended the College of Music in Chicago and studied under professional teachers in New York.
At the completion of his formal schooling, the budding musician was hired as musical director for David Henderson Productions. This company performed all over the country and engaged local musicians to supplement the orchestra. Logan's job was to train these hometown musicians and whip them into shape before the opening performance. It is said Logan conducted orchestras in practically every large city in the country.
Later, Logan worked for Jefferson de Angeles' Opera Company and then he received his first important position as musical director for Montgomery and Stone's famous New York production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Next, David Belasco hired him as director for his theater and Logan traveled from coast to coast in Maude Adams' repertoire of "Peter Pan." He also wrote musical scores for Chauncy Olcott.
But after a few seasons the strain of constant travel and opening night pressure wearied Logan and he gave up his demanding career to return to Iowa. He went back to Oskaloosa and made his home with his mother. Here they established the "Knight-Logan Studios of Musical Art" and gave voice, harmony and piano lessons to students from far and near.
In the peace and quiet of a small town, Frederick Knight Logan composed the song that made him famous. One story has it that an orchestra leader who traveled the Midwest appeared one day at Logan's home and hummed parts of a tune that he had heard in Missouri. Logan took the tune, arranged and rearranged it and finally came up with a published composition he called "The Missouri Waltz." Immediately this work became one of America's favorite waltzes and earned Logan a handsome income for the rest of his life.
Besides "The Missouri Waltz," Logan wrote such beautiful songs as "Pale Moon," "Fallen Leaf" and the "Blue Rose Waltz." As the years went by and his tunes continued to grow in popularity, Frederick Knight Logan was called "America's Waltz King." He received many offers to return to theater work, but he refused all, saying he preferred life in Iowa to the confusion and distractions of the city.
Logan was regarded with both affection and awe in his hometown. Some residents who remember him describe the composer as "rather odd" and a "lone wolf," but all agree that he had a cheerful disposition. Logan and his mother had a large collection of photograph records that Frederick liked to play at top volume. Often he would invite friends into his home to listen to his musical collection.
Logan never married and continued to live with his aged mother until death cut short his brilliant career on June 11, 1928, at the age of 57. Mrs. Logan lived until the early 1940s. Now both mother and son are buried in Oskaloosa's Forest Cemetery.
Today, more than three decades after his death, the main income of the Oskaloosa Woman's Club is derived from royalties earned by "The Missouri Waltz" --- the unforgettable song by Frederick Knight Logan, "America's Waltz King."
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The rest as they say is history and "The Missouri Waltz" became our neighbor to the south's state song in 1949, honoring its native son, President Truman, who loved it.
If you drive by what once was the Logan family home at 416 B Avenue East in Oskaloosa you'll see his commemorative plaque mounted on a small boulder. And tombstones marking the grave of Frederick, his mother and other family members are located in beautiful Forest Cemetery.
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