Stern, Joseph W.

Joseph W. Stern Publisher New York City, January 11, 1870; Long Island, New York, March 31, 1934. He and his silent partner, Edward B. Marks, became the major competitor of the Witmarks . As general music publishers, Stern and Marks were strong on dance music—waltzes, schottisches, two-steps—especially the sensation of the 1890s, the Cakewalk. They were quick to hear the difference that the black songwriter made, and hired the most prolific teams—Bob Cole writing first with comedian Billy…