Raymond Hubbell
Hubbell, Raymond (1879–1954), composer. A prolific songwriter who left behind only one enduring song, Hubbell was born in Urbana, Ohio, and grew up in Chicago. There he studied music and led a dance orchestra before taking a position as staff composer with Charles K. Harris's company. His songs were soon being sung in vaudeville and interpolated into Chicago musicals. Hubbell's first full score was offered to Chicago as Chow Chow and later brought to New York as The Runaways (1903). One of his biggest successes was Fantana (1905). Thereafter, he composed the music for many of Lew Fields's musical productions; for the 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1917 editions of the Ziegfeld Follies; and for six of the extravaganzas at the Hippodrome. It was for a 1916 production, The Big Show, in the last venue that he composed his best‐remembered song, “Poor Butterfly.” By 1922 the appearance of numerous superior talents and changes in style had lessened the demand for his services. In all Hubbell composed the scores for over thirty musicals, most of them highly successful in their day.
