Willey Francis Gates (March 18, 1865 - December 22, 1941) was an American critic and author. He was born on March 18, 1865 in Zanesville, Ohio, to John Willey Gates (1824-1912) and Mary (Erlougher)...view moreWilley Francis Gates (March 18, 1865 - December 22, 1941) was an American critic and author. He was born on March 18, 1865 in Zanesville, Ohio, to John Willey Gates (1824-1912) and Mary (Erlougher) Gates (1824-1912). He graduated from Zanesville High School in 1883 and Ohio Wesleyan University in 1888. He was a student of music under Whitney, Wheeler, Elson, Chadwick, and Meyn. He later studied with the English tenor, pedagogue and composer, William Shakespeare (1849-1931).
Gates then went on to teach voice and piano. He was the author of Musical Mosaics (1889), Pipe and Strings (1894), In Praise of Music (1898), Hand Gymnastics for Piano Students (1898) and Melodic Vocalises (1902). He was also a regular contributor to music magazines such as The Etude Magazine and other publications, as well as daily papers such as The Sunday Times-Signal and the Los Angeles Times. He was the museum editor of The Graphic from 1911-1917 and the editor of The Music Student from 1914-1915.
Gates was married twice, first to Minnie E. Wilson in 1889, and then Anna Lenore Giles. He was a resident of Los Angeles, California since 1900 and died there in 1941 at the age of 76.view less