Songwriters Hall of FameInducted 2011 | BMI Writer

After a trip to New Orleans, via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, wrote the plantation melodies "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Massa's In De Cold Ground".

April 10 - Dies in Tunis Africa

Old Dog Tray is published.

While working as a carpenter in Chicago, Danks leaves the position to begin a career as a composer.

Marries Catherine Rives in New York

After gaining fame for his coronet solos, he joins the Salem Brigade Band, at the time regarded as the best band in America

During a separation from Jane and while living in New York City, writes "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" for his wife. Through the separation, dependency on alcohol increases along with consuming debt. Also writes, during this time, "Ellen Bayne", "Hard Times Come Again No More" and "Willie, We Have Missed You".

October 22 - James Bland is born in Flushing, New York

Father William and mother Eliza die. Writes "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming".

Performs for the inauguration of President James Buchanan

Brother Dunning dies and the disintegration of morale and creativity increases. Foster becomes involved with the 1857 presidential campaign of his sister Ann's brother-in-law James Buchanan. Buchanan is elected in 1857.

Dank's first composition "The Old Lane" is published in William Bradley's Jubilee

Sells all future financial interest in previously published songs to his publishers for cash in hand. Moves back in with Jane and Marion and settles debt.

Begins writing songs for stage scores, including Anna Lee

Marries Ellen O'Neill

Founds Patrick Gilmore's Band, which features 2 woodwinds to each brass instrument. The first band of its kind and later a model for all bands.

July 21 - Chancellor John Olcott is born in Buffalo, New York

Katherine Lee Bates is born in Falmouth, MA on August 12, 1859

DIXIE, written by Emmett, is introduced by the Dan Bryant Minstrels during a tour of the south

April 9 - The Gilmore Band debuts

Publication of "Old Black Joe" is the last of the exclusive association with Firth & Pond Co. Leaves Pittsburgh for the last time and settles permanently in New York City.

James' father is the first African American appointed as examiner in the US Patent Office. The Bland family relocates to Washington DC where the children attend Public School.

Civil War begins and ushers in a new type of patriotic and military song. No longer under contract with a publisher, Foster begins writing on demand and selling songs for cash in hand. Songs included "Poor Drooping Maiden", "Under the Williow She's Sleeping", "We've A Million In the Field" and "We Are Coming Father Abraham".

Inspired from a visit to Washington DC where Julia and Samuel were escorted by President Lincoln to a Union Army camp, Julia begins writing lyrics which would later become Battle Hymn of the Republic

Gilmore's Band is enlisted in the Union Army

February - BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC is published in the Atlantic Monthly

Writes "Beautiful Dreamer" two weeks before his death.

Gilmore is put in charge of training bands in Massachusetts by Governor Andrews from MA..

Dies in New York City's Bellevue Hospital on January 13 with less than $.40 in his purse and a scrap of paper which reads "Dear friends and gentle hearts".

Dank's returns to New York

Gilmore writes WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME after the Battle of Gettysburg

Gilmore completes his service in the Army and is asked by President Lincoln to organize and perform a celebration in New Orleans

Charles K. Harris is born in Poughkeepsie, NY

Co-founder of the New England Woman's Club and acts as Vice President.

Gilmore's National Peace Festival is held in Cooley Square in Boston Common. It is the biggest social event of the century in Boston and is attended by President Grant and his cabinet

As a teenager, Bland works as a page in the US House of Representatives. He often performs before members of the Manhattan Club and at homes of other Washington notables

1870's - Danks works as a choirmaster and writes several hymns and secular compositions including "Not Ashamed of Christ." Hi also writes a full book of hymns entitled Superior Anthems for Church Choirs. Throughout his career, Danks would compose the melody to over 1,300 hymns and popular songs.

The Harris family moves from New York to Saginaw, MI and finally settles in Milwaukee, WI

Becomes president of the New England Woman Suffrage Association

President of the American Woman Suffrage Association

After graduating from high school, James and his father both enroll at Howard University. James studies Liberal Arts which his father studies Law.

His first operetta Pauline is published

Travels to Europe where Gilmore is inspired to produce the World Peace Jubilee. Last that year, the Jubilee is held in Boston.

James graduates from Howard at the age of 19 with the ambition of becoming a stage performer.

In collaboration with Eben E. Rexford, Danks writes the music to the great standard "Silver Threads Among the Gold"

Graduates from Wellesley High School

During a trip to Virginia, James is inspired by the land and the Potomac river and writes the lyrics to "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"

October - James auditions for minstrel man George Primrose at the Ford Theatre in Washington. He performs his composition "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." Four days later, the song is premiered in Baltimore Maryland. Its success was immediate.

James gets his first job with Billy Kersands' all-negro minstrel group.

1875-1880 - James tours the country with Kersands' group and other companies including Callender's Original Georgia Minstrels (managed by the Frohman Bros.).