Born James Albert Leighton in Beacher, Illinois, composer, author and author Bert Leighton was educated in public schools. Eventually he joined a vaudeville team with his brother Frank. Joining ASCAP in 1945, his chief musical collaborators were Boyd Bunch and Ren Shields, and his popular-song compositions include "Steamboat Bill", "Frankie and Johnnie", "Ain't Dat a Shame?", "Fare Thee, Honey, Fare Thee Well", and "I Got Mine".
While some may question whether he was the original composer of "Casey Jones" and "Frankie and Johnny", there is no doubt that in 1910 he wrote "Steamboat Bill" with Ren Shields.