Songwriter Oscar B. (O.B.) Clow, at home in his recording studio in the Annobee Apartments, 319 No. I St. Clow was a renaissance man, an inventor, builder and athlete, but his real love was songwriting. For over 30 years, he wrote, recorded and tried to sell his music. His first success came in 1937, when he sold six of his dance tunes to the American Recording Co. They were recorded by Gene Kardos and his orchestra with vocals by Donald Carol and Beatrice Wain. His big break came in 1940, when the newly formed BMI optioned 4,000 of his tunes, his life's work. Clow died in July of 1942 at the age of 56 after a game of golf at the Fircrest Golf Course. He had, in his lifetime, patented several inventions, owned and operated 52 waffle places across the US, developed buildings in Tacoma and Seattle and composed and copyrighted over 300 songs. (TNT 11/18/1937, pg. 3; T. Times 1/2/1941, pg. 1; obit. 7/2/1942, pg. 1)

Clow, Oscar B.; Composers, Inventors;

Oscar B. (O.B.) Clow, left, songwriter and jack of all trades and his collaborator Hy Seaman, right, share a knowing smile in December of 1940 over the grand piano in Clow's recording studio. Broadcast Music Inc. (B.M.I.) had just purchased the option rights to 4,000 of Clow's tunes. For years ASCAP (American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers) had controlled the music publishing industry. Finally the radio broadcasters retaliated by forming BMI. Beginning January 1st, 1941, only B.M.I. controlled compositions would be played over the radio waves and broadcasters were scrambling for music. Clow sent BMI recordings of his songs and BMI optioned 4,000 of them, his life's work. Twenty four were released to 592 stations on Jan. 1st, 1941. Oscar Clow died July 1, 1942 at the age of 56 of a heart attack after playing golf. (T. Times 1/2/1941, pg. 1; obit. TNT 7/2/1942, pg. 1)

Clow, Oscar B.; Seaman, Hy; Composers; Inventors;

Hy Seaman, collaborator with songwriter Oscar B. (O.B.) Clow, at the grand piano in Clow's recording studio at the Annobee Apartments, 319 No. I St. Although Clow spouted words and melodies like a fountain, he couldn't play, read or write music. Hy Seaman was a pianist and writer and he set Clow's tunes to paper. (T. Times 1/2/1941, pg. 1)

Seaman, Hy; Composers; Pianos; Clow, Oscar B.--Homes & haunts;