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Frederick "Fred" Charles Solomon (1853–1924) composed and
arranged much of the music for Mr. Bluebeard. As a
boy he had performed in pantomimes at Drury
Lane theater in London and played drums and cornet
in W. C. Levey's orchestra. (Detailed list of Mr. Bluebeard tunes.)
Solomon emigrated from Lambeth, London, to America in
1885 and went to work as a singing comedian. In 1887
he married chorus girl Mamie Sutten while the pair
were performing at New York's Casino Theatre. In
1888 they had a son, William Frederick Solomon.
Fred came from a large family that included several
talented musicians and performers. His brother,
Edward Solomon, was also a composer. Another
brother, Sol Solomon, was a comedic actor, and their
father, Charles Solomon, was a pianist and music
teacher. Fred was the only one in the family who
could sing and play every band instrument. He played
in the Royal Marine Band at Chatham, England, and
received a Queen's Silver Medal for his service.
Solomon was associated with the Koster & Bial's and
Casino theaters in NYC before becoming the primary
musical director for Klaw and Erlanger productions.
In 1903, prior to the Iroquois Theater fire, he was
one of three selected by Klaw and Erlanger to offer
free lessons to 800 aspiring applicants in New York
City. K&E anticipated needing many more performers
to meet its future ambitions. Solomon taught singing
while other Klaw & Erlanger regulars taught dance
and acting. Frank Young and Ned Weyburn were in
charge of dance lessons, and Herbert Gresham taught
acting.
Frederick Solomon's credits included:
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Captain Kidd, 1883, composer
Koster & Bial's Music Hall, 1886-93, musical performer
Nadjy, 1889, musician and actor
Puritania, 1892, musical performer
The Ballet Girl, 1895, singing performer
Billee Taylor, 1897, music score and singing performer
Maid in the Moon, Casino Roof Garden, 1898, composer
Erminie, 1898, performer Cadeaux
The Man in the Moon, 1899, singing performer and contributing composer
The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, 1901, musical director and composer
Mother Goose, 1903, musical director and composer
Mr. Bluebeard, 1903, musical director and composer
A Little of Everything, 1904, musical director
Humpty Dumpty, 1904, lyricist & composer
Ziegfield Follies The Jardin De Paris, 1907, conductor
Little Nemo in Slumberland, 1908, musical director
The Rainbow Girl, 1918, singing actor
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