Theodore August Metz was a German-born American bandleader and composer, born on March 14, 1848, in the Kingdom of Hanover. As a child, he studied violin at the Conservatory in Hanover. After emigrating to the United States, Metz initially worked in a pharmacy in Brooklyn and later as a gymnastics and swimming instructor in Indianapolis, where he also took lessons in orchestration. By 1886, he had settled in Chicago, balancing work on building projects during the day with conducting local bands at night, often performing ragtime interpretations of familiar tunes.

Metz became the conductor of the McIntyre and Heath Minstrels, a touring company, and in 1897, he copyrighted the song "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." The song, which became the company's signature tune during street parades, was reportedly inspired by an incident where Metz saw children starting a fire in a place called "Old Town." However, it is also suggested that he may have first heard the tune at Babe Connor's brothel in St. Louis. The song gained widespread popularity and was especially favored as a marching tune during the Spanish–American War of 1898.

In addition to his famous tune, Metz composed other popular songs such as "When the Roses Are in Bloom" and "Never Do Nothin' for Nobody," and he also wrote an operetta titled Poketa, with a libretto by Monroe Rosenfeld. He established a music publishing company in Stamford, Connecticut, which he later moved to New York City, where he retired after World War I. In 1935, Metz received a standing ovation at Madison Square Garden when his famous tune was played. He passed away on January 12, 1936, in New York City at the age of 87.