Robert Hoffman
Musician · 1878–1964 · New Orleans, Louisiana
Best known for
Songwriter
Robert Hoffman was a New Orleans ragtime composer who, with lyricist John J. Puderer, wrote “I’m Alabama Bound” (1909) — the ragtime two-step that became one of the most-covered American railroad songs of the early twentieth century after Jelly Roll Morton, Trixie Smith, Les Paul and Mary Ford, and a long line of country and blues acts all recorded versions under varying titles.
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- Born in 1878; spent his composing career in New Orleans.
- Composed the ragtime two-step “I’m Alabama Bound” (also published as “The Alabama Blues”) in 1909; John J. Puderer of New Orleans’s Music Shop supplied the lyrics and published the sheet music.
- Prince’s Band cut the first commercial recording of the song on Columbia in November 1909.
- Jelly Roll Morton, Trixie Smith, Les Paul and Mary Ford, and Lead Belly all recorded reworkings under various titles, including “Alabama Bound” and “Don’t You Leave Me Here.”
- The song entered the country and bluegrass repertoire through Charlie Poole’s 1925 recording.
- Died in 1964.
