Dresser, Paul

Paul Dresser Songwriter Paul Dreiser, Terre Haute, Indiana, April 21, 1857; New York City, January 30, 1906. He was the older brother of novelist Theodore Dreiser. His father, a deeply religious man, wanted Paul to become a priest. Since the boy’s interest lay in music, he ran away from home at sixteen and joined a medicine show, changing his last name at this time. Dresser joined several minstrel troupes and wrote songs relentlessly. It was in 1885, when he was with the Billy Rice Minstrels…