Joseph E. Howard (February 12, 1870 – May 19, 1961) was an acclaimed American Broadway composer, lyricist, librettist, and performer. As a prominent member of Tin Pan Alley, he collaborated with his wife Ida Emerson as part of the songwriting duo Howard and Emerson. Some of his notable hits include “Hello! Ma Baby” and Broadway musicals like “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now?”.

Born on February 12, 1870 (or 1871) in New York City, Joseph Howard overcame a challenging upbringing in a gang-infested neighborhood and a turbulent relationship with his father. He found solace in music, serving as an altar boy and choir singer in a Catholic orphanage. At a young age, he embarked on a journey, riding a freight train to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was discovered by George Walker of Williams and Walker, leading to voice training and his first exposure to the theater.

Howard’s career flourished as he toured with stock companies and performed as a boy soprano in vaudeville. In 1898, he met Ida Emerson, his second wife, and together they became a sensation on the Midwestern vaudeville circuit. Their breakthrough came in 1899 with the composition of the hit song “Hello! Ma Baby,” which sold over a million copies of sheet music. They continued writing songs for vaudeville and produced successful shows in Chicago from 1905 to 1915.

Known for his pop jazz hits such as “What’s the Use of Dreaming?” and “A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Mother,” Joseph Howard’s enduring legacy lies in his contributions to songs like “Hello! Ma Baby” and “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now.” Despite legal controversies surrounding authorship, Howard’s talent as a performer, composer, and lyricist left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Joseph E. Howard’s career spanned nightclubs, theaters, radio, and television. He hosted the television series “The Gay Nineties Revue” in the late 1940s, featuring his nostalgic hits. In 1970, he was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Howard’s autobiography, “Gay Nineties Troubadour,” was published in the late 1950s.

Joseph Howard passed away on May 19, 1961, while on stage in Chicago, singing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” during a curtain call. His contributions to the world of music and Broadway continue to resonate with audiences to this day.