J. Fred Coots was a song plugger, pianist, vaudeville headliner, and composer. His mother wanted him to become a concert pianist but he heard the call of Tin Pan Alley. His first song was “Mister Ford You’ve Got the Right Idea,” written in 1917 when Henry Ford offered to send a peace ship to Europe in an effort to end WWI. His work in vaudeville included writing material for specific performers, one of whom was Sophie Tucker. He composed three Cotton Club Revues and became a staff composer for the Shuberts, writing songs for many musicals and revues.

His Broadway successes include Sally, Irene and Mary (1922) with lyricist Raymond Klages, Artists and Models (1924 and 1925), for which he wrote the music, and Sons o’ Guns (192...