Joe Verges, born Joseph Michael Verges on October 22, 1882, in New Orleans, was a prominent American composer of popular music. He was particularly influential in the New Orleans music scene from 1916 to 1922. Verges is best known for his 1916 composition "Don't Leave Me, Daddy," which became a significant hit and was later revived by various artists, including Dinah Shore in 1941.

Verges collaborated with lyricist Sam Rosenbaum, also known as Sam Rosen, on several popular songs such as "Somewhere With Someone Someday" (1917), "The Camel Walk" (1917), and "China Baby" (1920). One of their notable successes was "Jelly Bean" (1920), which remained a popular tune in New Orleans and experienced a revival in the 1940s.

In 1922, Verges moved from New Orleans to Houston, where he co-composed "That's Why You Make Me Cry" (1923). Following his time in Houston, he spent several years in Chicago during the mid-1920s. There, he collaborated with various artists, including an ODJB saxophonist, on works like "Oh! Look At That Baby" (1927) and "Our Bungaloo Of Dreams" (1927).

Joe Verges passed away on August 12, 1964, in his hometown of New Orleans, leaving behind a legacy as one of the leading pop music composers of his era.