Harry Bastin
| Harry Baisden | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cyrus Harry Baisden |
| Born |
April 18, 1893 Minnesota, United States |
| Died | December 4, 1926 (aged 33) |
| Genres | Big band |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader, Musician, Arranger, Composer |
| Years active | 1915–1924 |
| Labels | Nordskog Records |
| Associated acts | Harry Baisden and His Orchestra |
Harry Baisden (aka Harry Bastin, né Cyrus Harry Baisden; 18 April 1893 Lester Prairie, Minnesota — 4 December 1926 Augusta, Georgia) was an American composer of popular music, arranger, pianist, and an acclaimed dance orchestra leader. While a musician in the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Band during World War I, Baisden composed several popular wartime songs, namely "Iowa, We Owe A Lot To You," "Meet Me At The Red Cross Ball," "I'll Steal You," and "Camp Cody Blues."
The earliest extant published reference found of Baisden's avocation as a musician appears in the 1910 Minneapolis City Directory. In 1911, Baisden was a pianist with the Lucas Show, a medicine show managed by Dr. George F. Lucas. The show featured Baisden with drummer Glenn Silk, The Three Aerial Lucases, gymnasts, York & DeLisco's Animal Circus [Mr. W. B. York (1870– ) and Madam Lottie DeLisco (née Lottie Kelsey; 1880 )], and John P. Mack as comedian. The show reportedly performed to capacity audiences in and around Minnesota, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. Baisden ended his engagement with Lucas sometime before September 1911.
During the war, Baisden had been a member of the 2nd Iowa Infantry Band, mustered in 1916 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. As some point, the band (and orchestra), conducted by John Valentine Eppel (1971–1931), was deployed to Camp Cody, New Mexico, but, in sometime around May 1918, was re-stationed at Fort Dodge.
For about 90 days, beginning sometime after Christmas 1818, Baisden toured with "Uncle Sammy's Minstrels," a group of musicians and entertainers composed of musicians who had returned from World War I, who, before the war had been headliners in vaudeville and Minstrel shows. The touring company included the 163rd Depot Brigade Band from Camp Dodge, Iowa, for which, Baisden had been a musician. He also had been a piano player at the Magic Theater at Fort Dodge, Iowa, from 1917 to 1919.
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