Leighton Brothers

[2] Born to Irish immigrants, the Leighton Brothers grew up in Decatur, Illinois during the latter part of the 19th century.

[1] The Leighton Brothers were invited to perform on the Orpheum Circuit, highlighting their original music as well as their new compositions of popular songs.

[4] The Leighton Brothers composed many ragtime pieces for use in minstrel shows and vaudeville, including "There's A Dark Man Coming With A Bundle" (sung by Bob Roberts), "Far away in Honolulu (They've got the tango craze)" (sung by Van and Schenck), and an arrangement of "Frankie and Johnny" with Ren Shields that would set the tone for all future versions of the song[5] It was with Shields that the Leightons composed their most memorable and influential song, "Steamboat Bill," in 1910.

[6] Steamboat Bill was recorded by Arthur Collins in 1911[7] and would go on to inspire Charles Reisner to write a movie for Buster Keaton titled Steamboat Bill, Jr., which released as a silent film in 1928.

That same year, Walt Disney found inspiration in the movie and in the song to create the first synchronized cartoon with sound, Steamboat Willie.