He is known chiefly for writing the lyrics to "The Missouri Waltz" (the state song of Missouri) and for composing the song "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" ("Irish Lullaby").
[1][3][4] He began his musical writing career in collaboration with his mother, Eliza Shannon.
His first significant composition was "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" which was one of the songs composed by Shannon for Chauncey Olcott's musical Shameen Dhu that successfully debuted in New York City in February 1914.
It reached # 4 on the Billboard charts, sold over a million copies, and was included in one of Bing Crosby's albums.
[4] Residing primarily in Detroit during his career, he owned and operated a theatrical company that toured both in the U.S. and in Europe.