Harry Austin Tierney was an influential American composer born on May 21, 1890, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Educated at the Virgil Conservatory in New York, he studied music under the guidance of his mother and Nicholas Morrissey. Tierney began his career as a concert pianist, touring the United States, and later worked for a music publisher in London in 1915. By 1918, he had become a staff composer at Remick music publishers on Tin Pan Alley.

Tierney is best known for his contributions to musical theatre, particularly for the long-running Broadway hits such as "Irene" (1919), which was the longest-running show of its era with 620 performances, "Kid Boots" (1923), and "Rio Rita" (1927), one of the first musicals adapted into a talking picture. His work often featured collaborations with lyricist Joseph McCarthy, and his songs were performed by notable artists of the time, including Eddie Cantor and Anna Held.

In addition to his Broadway successes, Tierney contributed to several music revues and films. He moved to Hollywood in 1931 under contract with RKO studios, where he worked on films such as "Dixiana" and "Half Shot at Sunrise." His catalog includes well-known songs like "Alice Blue Gown," "Castle of Dreams," and "Rio Rita."

Harry Tierney passed away in New York City on March 22, 1965, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.