Cal. Stark (1881-1972)
Last updated: 01.05.22
Cal. Stark was the nom-de-plume used by Caroline May Bruggeman Stark. She was born in Alton, Illinois and had sufficient musical training to be employed as a sheet music demonstrator in the Boston Department Store in St. Louis, Missouri where she met her future husband, William P. Stark, the son of the ragtime publisher, John Stark. Her best known composition was undoubtedly They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' (1912) which she wrote using the Cy Perkins as a pseudonym. The song, lyrics Webb M. Oungst, was used initially as the official campaign song for Missouri's Presidential Candidate, James Beauchamp "Champ" Clark. Subject to many legal proceedings the song was widely used and was adopted by the Second Missouri Infantry as their marching song. It was even proposed as a state song for Missouri. Cal. Stark was eventually acknowledged as the composer of the work after an appeals court decision.
Of ragtime interest is her Comus (1904). She died in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Of ragtime interest is her Comus (1904). She died in Kirkwood, Missouri.
| Websites: | |||
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Cal. Stark | Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards |
Cal. Stark (1881-1972) has at least 1 item(s) at the Amazons which you can order on-line by clicking the item's order icon.
 They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' SongMusic by: Cal. Stark. Words by: Webb M. Oungst
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| Title | Instruments | Performers |
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| DBE MP3 Sample | |||
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Baby Blues (1917) | T+D/T/T/B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
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Comus (1904) | A/T/T/T+B/B/GB(B) | Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. |
| Performer | CD Title | Supplier |
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| Ragtime Music CDs: | |||
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Nora Hulse | Ragtime Refreshments | |
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St. Louis Ragtimers | The St. Louis Ragtimers: Volume 2 |        |
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Bill Edwards | It's Ragging Cats and Dogs |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 10 works by Cal. Stark (1881-1972).
It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Dainty Foot | 1903 |  |
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| Comus | 1904 | as Carrie Bruggeman | Pub. |
| Dream Pillows, The | 1908 | Eddie Dustin (words) | Pub. |
| They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' | 1912 | Webb M. Oungst (words)
as Cy Perkins |
 Pub. |
| Sunset Waltz | 1914 | |
|
| Tango Tangle | 1914 | ||
| Baby Blues | 1917 | Pub.  |
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| Baby Blues - Song | ? | Margie Brandon (words) | |
| Cootie Stomp | ? | ||
| Slumber Time | ? |