I'm going to attempt to re-correct Lesley N.'s quote from THE FIRESIDE BOOK OF FAVORITE AMERICAN SONGS, © 1952, p. 23. Lesley did correct "brothel" for "brother" but there were still outstanding typos. Here's what Lesley quoted originally (typos in bold):

"Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-Der-E was published in 1891. Herny Sayers, the composer, frankly says that the tune originated in Babe Bonner's famous St. Louis brother, sung by the fabulous nego singer Mama Lou. Sayers' song was a complete failure: America would have nothign to do with it. A year later, Lottie Collins, well-known music-hall singer of the day, sang it in London. Overnight it became a sensation. The music-hall crowds delighted in its rollicking rhythm and its nonsensical lines. Brought back to America by Lottie Collins in 1894 it was greeted with t he sam wild enthusiasm that the English had accorded it, and has remained on of America's most popular songs."

Here is the hopefully correct version:

"Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-Der-E was published in 1891. Henry Sayers, the composer, frankly says that the tune originated in Babe Conner's famous St. Louis brothel, sung by the fabulous Negro singer Mama Lou. Sayers' song was a complete failure: America would have nothing to do with it. A year later, Lottie Collins, well-known music-hall singer of the day, sang it in London. Overnight it became a sensation. The music-hall crowds delighted in its rollicking rhythm and its nonsensical lines. Brought back to America by Lottie Collins in 1894 it was greeted with the same wild enthusiasm that the English had accorded it, and has remained one of America's most popular songs."

Evidently the typos in this post have raised almost as many questions as the question that Lesley was attempting to address, the origin of the song.

Charley Noble