Thomas Westendorf

Thomas Payne Westendorf (b. 1848-d. 1923) – Thomas P. Westendorf, a school teacher of juveniles in Plainfield, Indiana, had a big hit with “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” (1875), which was a response to a song dedicated to him. Earlier in the same year, George W. Persley, an experienced songwriter, published “Barney, Take Me Home Again.” Even though Westendorf was a novice, the song became famous. Although lacking any clear reference to Ireland or Irish culture, the two songs are stylistically characterized as “Irish ballads.” Soon thereafter, Westendorf wrote a number of other secular and sacred songs, although none as successful as “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.” Thomas Edison was such a fan of Westendorf’s masterpiece that he paid him $250.00 for allowing his to have it sung at his funeral. The song has resurfaced many times most notably in remakes by Elvis Presley (RCA, 1973), Bing Crosby (Decca Records, 1945), and Mitch Miller (Sony, 1959). It was also sung on an episode of Star Trek.