James William Tate (30 July 1875 – 5 February 1922) was an English songwriter, accompanist, composer and producer of revues and pantomimes in the early years of the 20th century.

Julian Wylie formed a partnership with Tate, creating and producing pantomimes and revues just before the First World War, as well as musicals such as High Jinks (1916).

Originally intending to pursue a career in the church, he received early music training from his father, composing his first piece at the age of ten.

[citation needed] In 1892, Tate went to the United States, returning in 1897 to accept a position as Musical Director at the Carl Rosa Opera Company.

Tate also wrote song hits such as "The rain came pitter patter pown," "A tiny seed," "Come over the Garden Wall," and "I was a good little girl till I met you" (all in 1914), and "Give me a little cosy corner" (1918).

[citation needed] In 1916 Tate composed four songs, including three that became hits ("My life is love", "A bachelor gay am I", and "A paradise for two"), for inclusion in what became a record-breaking show, The Maid of the Mountains.

This commission arose at the suggestion of the show's star, Tate's step daughter Jose Collins, after initial previews indicated that the original score needed strengthening.

The Wylie-Tate company continued through the 1920s and into the 1930s despite Tate's death, and Wylie continued to use Tate's music in pantomimes during this period, including several productions of Cinderella, Leap Year (1924), Mr Tickle M.P (1924), Who's My Father (1924), Turned Up (1926), Flyaway Peter (1926, with Sophie Tucker), The Apache (1927 at The London Palladium), Dancing Mad (1927), The Yellow Mask (1928), Mr. Cinders (1929) at the Adelphi Theatre and The Good Companions at His Majesty’s Theatre (1931).