Composer of Broadway stage scores, conductor and musician (most brass instruments). Joined ASCAP 1922, elected Professional Member of The Lambs 1927.
Born in Creston, Iowa, February 21, 1888; died in New york, April 23, 1960.
Archer led his own orchestra in Chicago, disbanded and the became a member of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra following World Way I. In the early 1920;s, Archer wrote Broadway stage scores for Little Jessie James (Longacre Theater, August 15, 1923)…with a genuine Paul Whiteman Orchestra led by Ernest Cutting in the pit (biographer Thomas A. Delong in Pops Paul Whiteman, King of Jazz).This was but one of Whiteman’s units in theaters and clubs.
Other works include My Girl, Paradise Alley, Merry-Merry, Twinkle-Twinkle, and Just a Minute. Chief collaborators were Harlan Thompson, Howrd Johnson. Songs include “I Love You,” “Little Jessie James,” “Paradise Alley,” and “Twinkle.”
One song that has stood the test of time is “I Love You,” from the musical Little Jessie James (1923). The first recording was made in 1923 and can be found on an old 78 rpm Columbia Record #A3989-81203, “The Columbian Dance Orchestra.” 59 years later, Slim Gaillard’s version appeared on MCA Record’s Collectible Series (MCA-1508), previously released on the DOT Label in 1958. In 1953, Lamb Robert Strauss‘ version was used in the 1953 Paramount Pictures film Stalag 17. Strauss, a non-singer, played the character ‘Animal’ in the film, which dealt with Nazi-held POW’s during World War II. Stalag 17, by Donald Bevan and Edward Tracinsky, enjoyed its first success on stage in 1951 in The Lambs Club Theater., produced by Lamb Michael Abbott. The film version skyrocketed Strauss to fame.