Auracher, Harry Runkle

Cadet 2nd Lieutenant and Ordnance Officer 1895; Band (Tuba) 1903. Harry Archer was born Harry Auracher on February 21, 1888, in Creston, IA, and died April 23, 1960, in New York, N.Y. During the 1920’s and the 1930’s, Archer was a very successful bandleader. While he is remembered as such today, he did score several Broadway shows, and also wrote some songs occasionally. Harry’s Mother taught him music, and he worked his way through the Michigan Military School playing the trombone in theater and pop music orchestras. He had advanced musical studies at Knox Colelge in Galesburg, IL, and at Princeton University. After schooling, he settled in Chicago, IL and formed his own band. His first Broadway score was written in 1912, the ‘Pearl Maiden’. He continued writing for Broadway shows, revues, etc., until, when in 1923, he had a huge success with his score for the show ‘Little Jesse James’. His song, I Love You, was written for this show. Among the other musicals for which Harry did scores are ‘My Girl’ (1924), ‘Paradise Alley’ (1924), ‘Merry, Merry’ (1915), and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’. (1926).
He married actress Ruth Gillette and they had a happy life together, When he retired, he and his wife moved to New York City, where he died in 1960, age 72. Theme: I’ll Always Remember You Archer was a well educated musician, as a youngster he learned the trumpet and would go on to master all of the brass instruments. He attended the Michigan Military Academy, Princeton University and Knox College! In 1912, he worked with Paul Whiteman to write the score for the Broadway musical, The Pearl Maiden. He developed his songwriting abilities on such shows as Little Jessie James: 1923, My Girl: 1924, and Just A Minute: 1928. His hit songs included the often recorded, I Love You, A Girl Like You, Heigh-ho Cheerio, Alone In My Dreams and The Sweetest Girl This Side Of Heaven. After his work on Broadway, he formed his own dance band in Chicago. The band enjoyed the success of radio remotes at several Chicago ballrooms before signing a record deal with Brunswick. The recording sessions included the bands theme song, I’ll Always Remember You as well as Sunny, It Must Be Love, Thinking of You, My Heart Stood Still, and When Day Is Done. Their recording of There Ain’t No Maybe In My Baby’s Eyes was often heard on the 1980’s TV sit-com Empty Nest. The song was a favorite of the character played by Richard Mulligan. Above notes by Mr. Dan DelFiorentino