Brian Easdale
b: Aug. 10, 1909, Manchester, Eng., UK. d: Oct. 30, 1995. UK
Brian studied at London's Royal College of Music, under Gordon Jacob and Armstrong Gibbs. At just age 17, he composed his first opera, "Rapunzel", and at age 20, another of his works, the "Dead March" processional was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir 'Malcolm Sargent'.

In 1936, Easdale began writing music for the GPO Film Unit productions including 'Big Money' (1937), 'Kew Gardens' (1937), 'Men in Danger' (1939), 'Ferry Pilot' (1942), 'Job in a Million' (1937), 'Health in Industry' (1938).

In 1939 he worked as the musical director of the Group Theatre, working alongside another composer, -Benjamin Britten. His first film was Gone to Earth (based on the Mary Webb novel); followed by 'Men in Danger' (1939), and 'Spring Offensive' (1940).

During World War 2, Easdale served, from 1940-'42, with Britain's Royal Artillery working as a composer (for various government Film Units) writing the music for training films and propoganda works.

During 1942-'45, he was working with the Public Relations Film Unit, India. During 1945-'46, he was Musical Director of Information Films of India. (This Indian connection would later bring him a commission for the film 'The Black Narcissus'.) In 1946, he returned to England and was appointed musical director of the Archers Film Unit, remaining with the studio until 1949.

His major film work was done for The Archers Studio and the famous team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. 1947 saw the film "Black Narcissus" with Easdale's impressive score, but his work in 1948 for the J. Arthur Rank Studios film "Red Shoes", starring ballerina Moira Shearer, brought him international fame. The studio had decided that the work of their regular composer, (Polish born) Allan Gray, was not what they needed for the film, and they turned to Easdale. Easdale composed the complete "The Red Shoes" Ballet. It was the first British score to use the mysterious "Ondes Martenot". Famed conductor Thomas Beecham conducted the recording. Beecham's recorded the music -first- and the film was later "shot" around the recorded music. (In 1951, the same approach was employed for another Ballet film, 'The Tales of Hoffman', where Beecham again first recorded the soundtrack.) In 1948, the Red Ballet score won an "Oscar" from Hollywood's famed Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In a subsequent interview, ballerina Shearer described Easdale as "....a very young man - quite reserved but charming". She called his music "exotic, strange, ... .but nice to dance to and with a good rhythmic feel."

Films on which Easdale worked, include:
       Return to the Edge of the World (1978)
       Queen's Guards, The (1961)
       Peeping Tom (1960. aka: Face of Fear. aka: Fotographer of Panic, The)
       Miracle in Soho (1957)
       Battle of the River Plate, The (1956. aka: Graf Spee. aka in USA 1957: Pursuit of the Graf Spee)
       Green Scarf, The (1954)
       Wild Heart, The (1952. aka: Gypsy Blood)
       Outcast of the Islands (1952)
       Gone to Earth (1950)
       Elusive Pimpernel, The (1950. aka in USA 1955: Fighting Pimpernel, The)
       Small Back Room, The (1949. aka in USA 1952: Hour of Glory)
       Red Shoes, The (1948)
       Black Narcissus (1947)
In 1936, Easdale first started writing film music for the GPO Film Unit, which included:
       'Big Money' (1937)
       'Kew Gardens' (1937)
       'Men in Danger' (1939)
       'Ferry Pilot'(1942)
       'Job in a Million' (1937)
       'Health in Industry' (1938)

   Fred Ebb
b. April 8, 1933, New York, NY, USA. d. Sept. 11, 2004 (Heart Attack)
Overview
Fred Ebb is the lyricist half of the Ebb and Kander team. With Kander, his partner for over 21 years, he has written for such Broadway hit shows as 'Cabaret'; 'Zorba, the Greek'; 'Woman of the Year'; 'The Act'; 'The Rink', and 'The Happy Time'. Fred was a graduate of New York University and of Columbia University. In 1962, he first teamed with John Kander to write 'Flora the Red Menace', produced by Hal Prince, directed by George Abbott, with a book by Abbott and George Russell. Actress Liza Minelli, Judy Garland's daughter, made her Broadway debut in the show. The Kander and Ebb team were known for creating good roles for American musical stage actresses. The careers of actress/singer Liza Minelli (her career was largely built on Kander and Ebb songs), dancer Chita Rivera, and actress/singer Lauren Bacall greatly benefitted from their efforts. Their 1991 'And the World Goes Round' (a revue of their work) helped actress Karen Ziemba find fame. Karen later starred in 'Chicago' and 'Steel Pier', -one of their last Broadway musicals. The team composed "New York, New York" for the 1977 Martin Scorcese film of the same name, which starred Minnelli and Robert De Niro, and the tune became a 'standard', and New York City's theme song, after it was recorded by Frank Sinatra.

Born in New York City, Fred Ebb developed a liking for the stage while still a child. That liking continued through his education at New York University, following which he got his Master's Degree in English Literature from Columbia Unviersity.

Ebb worked with Phillip Springer in the early 1960's. Springer recognized Ebb's lyrical talent and encouraged him to continue.
Among the songs that the team wrote were:
       "How Little We Know"
       "Santa Baby", a huge hit for Eartha Kitt.
       "Moonlight Gambler"
       "Nevertheless I Never Lost The Blues"

Ebb has said that Phillip taught him all he knows of prosody, form, AABA as opposed to Verse-Chorus, and said that he never knew those things, he only had an instinct, but no technique.

In 1962, composer John Kander was working with the Goldman brothers, Bill and Jim. They worked on the show 'A Family Affair' that ran for 65 performances in New York before closing in Philadelphia.

1960 The Broadway Revue 'From A to Z' had some sketches by Ebb and composer Paul Klein. The show closed after 21 performances.
1963 The Off-Broadway show 'Morning Sun', a tragedy in several respects.

In 1964, Tommy Valando got Ebb together with composer John Kander, and the team would stay together for over 21 years, making their collaboration one of the longest in Broadway musical history. The Ebb and Kander team started off strongly with the song "My Coloring Book", which was a big success for singer Barbra Streisand.

A list of the many Kander and Ebb Broadway musicals would include
1964 Kander and Ebb wrote the Musical 'Golden Gate'. It was never produced, but the score influenced producer Harold Prince (who knew Kander socially) to engage the team to score his new Broadway show 'Flora, the Red Menace', which (finally) starred Liza Minnelli.
1965 Flora the Red Menace' opened in May, -an immediate hit. The 'Tony' Awards Committee awarded Minnelli a 'Best Actress' Award for her performance.

1966 'Cabaret'. Hal Prince then engaged the team to do the score for a musical version of the play 'I Am A Camera', which was produced under the name of Cabaret The Show ran for 1,166 performances, winning the 'Best Musical of 1967' Award, while Ebb and Kander won the 'Best Score of the Season Award'. Jill Haworth starred as Sally Bowles on the stage, and later Liza Minnelli starred in the film production, winning an Best Actress Oscar Award for her portrayal of Sally. Some of the songs they wrote for the show include:
       "Willkommen"
       "Maybe This Time"
       "What Would You Do?"
       "Perfectly Marvelous" (originally named "Roommates").

1968 The Broadway show 'The Happy Time' opened, and ran for less than one year.
1968 The Broadway show 'Zorba, the Greek' opened. Herschel Bernardi was the star. Later, Anthony Quinn starred as Zorba in the film version. Zorba was revived on Broadway in 1981, with Quinn again as Zorba. This show, too, lasted less than one year.

1971 The Broadway show '70, Girls, 70'. This show closed after one month.
1972 The Broadway show 'Chicago', starring Gwen Verdon as the murderess Roxie Hart, and Chita Rivera as Velma, another murderess. (Yes, the show was a Musical!) Bob Fosse was the choreographer. This show was also made into a motion picture that starred Catherine Zeta-Jones (b. Sept. 22, 1969, Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales, UK) as Velma Kelly, and Renée Zellweger (b. April 25, 1969, Katy, Texas, USA) as Roxie Hart, .Richard Gere (b. August 31, 1949, Philadelphia, PA, USA) as the lawyer Billy Flynn, Chita Rivera (b. Jan. 23, 1933, Washington, District of Columbia, USA) as Nickie, and Queen Latifah (b. March 18, 1970, East Orange, NJ, USA. -née: Dorothy. Owens), as the jail Matron, 'Mama' Morton. (For over a decade, 'Queen Latifa' was the most prominent female hip-hop artists on the American scene.)
1977 The Broadway show 'The Act'. Ran for 233 performances.. starred Liza Minnelli.

1981 'Woman of the Year' opened on Broadway, starring Lauren Bacall
1984 Broadway show 'The Rink', starring Liza Minneli and Chita Rivera. Included such songs as:
       "The Apple Doesn't Fall"
       "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer"
       "All The Children In a Row"

1991 And The World Goes 'Round
1992 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'
1997 Steel Pier
1999 Fosse
1999 The Skin Of Our Teeth
2001 The Visit

Fred.Ebb was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, and won for 'Cabaret', 'Woman of the Year', and 'Kiss of the Spider Woman'. In 2003, The Landmark Conservancy named both men "Living Landmarks" .

   Roger Edens
b. Nov. 9, 1905, Hillsboro, TX, USA. d. 1970, USA.
Currently no information available.
Overview
Roger was working as piano accompanist for ballroom dance teams before he was called to Hollywood in 1933, where he wrote the special material for Ethel Merman's Paramount film releases. In 1935 he joined MGM, working as a musical director with occassional composing and arranging, - most notably for a series of Judy Garland films ("Dear Mr. Gable" for example). Sometime in the early 1940's, he became Arthur Freed's associated producer where he continued to score, arrange and compose for various films. Eventually, he won an Academy Award for his collaborations on such films as 'On The Town' (Comden and Green also contributed to this film); 'Annie Get Your Gun', and 'Easter Parade'.

He continued to produce many films into the 1950's. Among these films are:
1955 'Deep In the Heart Of Texas'
1956 'Funny Face'
1969 'Hello Dolly'

   Clara Edwards
Currently no information available.
Clara was essentially a pianist and composer of classical music. She was most active during the very late 1920's and 1930's. In the early 1940's, she made her (probably) only venture into the 'Pop' field. The tune was a national success.
        "With The Wind And The Rain In Her Hair"

   Gus Edwards
b. Aug. 18, 1879, Hohensalza, Germany d. Nov. 7, 1945 Los Angeles, CA, USA.
né: Gus Simon
Gus is remembered today not only as a songwriter, but as one of our greatest vaudevillians. Gus' life is, perhaps, the quintessential story of an entertainer's career. His family emigrated to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY, when Gus was just 7 years old. During the day, he worked in the family cigar store, and in the evenings, he wandered looking for any sort of show business job. He found work as a singer at various lodge halls, on ferry boat lounges, in saloons, and even between bouts at the athletic clubs.

There is an interesting connection here to his work at athletic clubs. Mr Evan Edwards, great-nephew of Gus Edwards, has recalled that famed sports columnist Bill Stern, on his August 2, 1946 radio show, interviewed Gus' neice, singer Joan Edwards. During the show, Stern told the tale of a young Gus meeting famed prizefighter John L. Sullivan, who by then was working in vaudeville. Stern said that on August 2, 1893, Sullivan met Gus, and was impresssed enough to use the youngster in his act. Stern went on to report that on August 2, 1913, exactly 20 years to the day that John L. Sullivan "discovered" Gus Edwards, Gus (while on a a western vaudeville tour) met a very young boxer who was somewhat discouraged. Gus staked him to a meal, and encouraged him to continue, -not to give up trying. Later, that young boxer become Heavyweight Champion of the World, Jack Dempsey, -'The Manassa Mauler'".

As a very young boy, Gus worked as a song plugger at Koster and Bial's; at Tony Pastor's theater, and at the Bowery Theater. In those old vaudeville days, song publishers would often hire a very young boy to sit in the theatre, and immediately after a vaudeville star had sung one of the publisher's songs, the youngster would stand up in the audience, and pretending to be completely overcome by the song, break out in an "extemporaneous" solo of the same tune. In this way, the young Gus Edwards would often sit in a balcony seat, and then stand and repeat a song that vaudeville stars such as Maggie Cline, or Lottie Gilson, or Emma Carus, had just sung.

In 1896, Gus was just 17 years old and appearing at Johnny Palmer's Gaiety Saloon in Brooklyn, NY, when James Hyde, a vaudeville agent, saw him performing in Johnny Palmer's Gaiety Saloon, in Brooklyn, NY. He booked a tour for Gus and four other boys as The Newsboys Quintet act. In 1898, while performing in this act, Gus wrote his first song, to a lyric by Tom Daly, "All I Want is My Black Baby Back". Gus couldn't write music at that time, so he hired Charles Previn to write down the notes. (May Irwin sang the song in her act, and helped to popularize it.)

While entertaining soldiers at Camp Black, during the Spanish-American War, Gus met lyricist Will Cobb, and they formed their "Words and Music", a partnership (nicknamed "Words and Music") that lasted for many years.

Brief Chronology:
-----------------
1899
   "The Singer and the Song"
   "I Couldn't Stand to See My Baby Lose"

Some of their other hits were:
   "I'll Be With you When the Roses Bloom Again"
   "Way Down Younder in the Cornfield"
   "In Zanzibar", in Broadway musical 'The Medal and The Maid'.
   "Could You Be True to Eyes of Blue"
    "Goodbye, Little Girl, Goodbye"
   "If a Girl Like You Loved a Boy Like Me"
1900
   "I Can't Tell Why I Love You, But I Do" (Their very first hit. Revived 1944, film 'Belle of the Yukon')
1905
Gus wrote some tunes with lyricist, Vincent Bryan including;
   "In My Merry Oldsmobile". (In 1905, this was the Most popular song in the USA.)
   "He's My Pal", lyric Bryan.
   "Tammany", with lyric by Vincent Bryan. Later, the theme song for New York's Democratic Party political club (where the song was introduced after Gus had written it in one hour.) Also later, the song was interpolated into the Broadway show 'Fantana' where Lee Harrison sang it.

1905 Gus forms his own music publishing company.
1906
   "I Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave", lyric by Will Cobb.
The tune was sung by Anna Held in Broadway show 'The Parisian Model'.

1907
   "School Days", lyric by Will Cobb.
Written for Gus' own vaudeville revue, 'School Boys and Girls'. (Gus wrote the act, directed it, and starred in it as well.) This act was so successful that it 'ran' for over twenty years. It consisted of a school room filled with young singers, dancers, actors, mimes, etc. Over the years, Gus scoured the country looking for new, young talent to star in these revues. He found such future stars as Lila "Cuddles" Lee (b: July 25, 1901, Union Hill, NY, USA. d: Nov. 13, 1973 in Saranac Lake, NY, USA); Groucho Marx, Georgie Jessel (as a boy age 9, Jessel was imitating vaudevillians Eddie Foy and Bert Williams; Jessel was later called "Toastmaster-General for his work as an "MC" at various affairs), Eddie Cantor, Eddie Buzzell, Walter Winchell, Hildegarde (né: Hildegarde Loretta Sell, it was Gus who suggested she use just her first name), Ray Bolger, Paul Haakon, Elsie Janis, The Duncan Sisters, tap dancer Eleanor Powell, George Price, Sally Rand (who went on to became a famous fan dancing Strip Tease artist), Ina Ray Hutton (who would later lead her own "All Girl" orchestra) and many more. He became known as "The Star Maker". A popular saying of the day was, 'Pull your kids in, here come Gus Edwards'.

Of course, Gus also wrote the music for these 'School Days' revues. Among the many songs he wrote were:
   "Sunbonnet Sue", lyric by Will Cobb
   "If I Was a Millionaire", lyric Will Cobb.
   "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", Edward Madden's Lyric.
   "Jimmy Valentine", lyric by Edw. Madden.

1907. Gus wrote the score for Florenz Ziegfeld's first 'Follies' show.
1907. Gus wrote the score for the Weber and Fields show, Hip, Hip, Hooray. Among the other Broadway stage scores he wrote over the next years were "When We Were Forty-One", "The Merry-Go-Round", "School Days", "Ziegfeld Follies of 1910", "Sunbonnet Sue", and "Show Window".
1914. Gus became a Charter member of ASCAP
1928. Gus went to Hollywood. He wrote some songs to words by Joe Goodwin. He appeared in some films including 'The Songwriter's Revue' and 'The Doll Shop', and also directed several short subjects.
1931. Gus went back into the vaudeville circuit and made some new discoveries, including the eccentric dancer, Ray Bolger, and the singing team of The Lane Sisters, -Pricilla, Rosemary and Lola.

Gus' great-nephew Evan Edwards, has also mentioned (in private correspondence), that singer Joan Edwards (Feb 1919-1981), vocalist on the Your Hit Parade radio program (sponsored by Lucky Strike Cigarettes) was Gus' Niece. Evan also pointed out that Gus' brother, Leo Edwards, was himself a vaudevillian and songwriter, and the person who introduced famed singer Fanny Brice to lyricist/producer Billy Rose.

Parenthetically, we may point out that Leo Edwards also composed several hundred tunes, most of which never achieved any fame. However, this writer always recalls a little ditty that Leo composed, and that is usually heard during war years, - "Would You Rather Be A Colonel (With an Eagle On Your Shoulder or a Private with A Chicken On Your Knee?)"
Among Leo's other songs are:
   "Aint That Always The Way"
   "Ballad Of Birmingham"
   "Becky Is Back In The Ballet"
   "Beer That I Left On The Bar"
   "Checkers"
   "Dancing Debutante"
   "I Never Knew A Nicer Day"
   "In a Little Canoe With You"
   "Lazy Bones" (Not the Hoagy Carmichael Hit!)
   "Love Is love In Any Language"
   "Lullaby From Harriet Tubman"
   "Pavlowa"
   "Peter Go Ringa Dem Bells"
   "Song of Tolerance"
   "That's What the Rose Said to Me", co-composed with Gus Edwards, and B. F. Barnett (1906)
   "There Is a Balm In Gilead"
   "Wings Over America"
and a few hundred others.

Among some of the other songs that Gus Edwards composed are "Meet Me Under the Wisteria", "Laddie Boy", "He's My Pal", "I Just Can't Make My Eyes Behave", "When The Do-Do Bird Is Singing in the Coca-Cola Tree" (from "Ziegfeld Summer Follies Of 1909), "I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again", "Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield", and "If I Were a Millionaire".

Gus retired in 1939. In 1940, Paramount Pictures starred Bing Crosby in a film biograph of Gus' life, 'The Star Maker'. In poor health for the final six years of his life, Gus died in 1945, a truly great American entertainment legend.

   Raymond S. Egan
b. 1890, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, d. 1952, Westport, Connecticut
Overview
Egan was most active in the 1920's - '30's. Perhaps his three greatest lyrics were:
1920  "The Japanese Sandman"
1921  "Ain't We Got Fun?"
1925  "Sleepy Time Gal"

Sylvia White Eisenberg
Currently no information available.
Among the tunes that Eisenberg wrote lyrics for are:
   "California, The Golden State"
   "China Nights" - Eisenberg added the English lyric to this Japanese tune. It was a hit in old Nippon for Kyu Sakamoto, and in the USA for Frankie Carle and Martin Denny (and others).

   "Min Skol Din Skol"
   "Put Your Arm Around Me"
   "Ring The Bell, Beat the Drum"
   "Touch Me"
   "Traded Off"

   Edward Eliscu
b. April 2, 1902, New York, N. Y., d. June 18, 1988, Newtown, Connecticut, USA.
Overview
Multi-talented Edward Eliscu is recalled today as a Playwright; producer; actor, and lyricist. After graduating from the City College of New York (BS), this sometime Broadway actor and stage manager (son of author Edward Eliscu) began his career in the late 1920s working the summertime Adirondacks (New York City Suburb) entertainment circuit. During this time, he began writing lyrics with some success. The 1929 Wall Street collapse, and subsequent great Economic Depression's had a crushing effect on Broadway, but Eliscu soon had a fortuitous call from Hollywood.

His work on Broadway includes such shows as 'Great Day', 1902 edition of 'The Garrick Gaieties', 'The Third Little Show', and the '9:15 Revue'.

In Hollywood, he first worked on the 1930 films Whoopee (starring Eddie Cantor), and Follow Thru to which he contributed some songs. he and co-lyricist Gus Kahn, wrote the lyrics for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' first film, Flying Down to Rio (1932), with music by composer Vincent Youmans. In 1933, he worked on the film Diplomaniacs (starring Bert Wheeler and Harry Woolsey), and then went on to work on perhaps another 20 films, the last being 1996s Box of Moonlight. As a screenwriter, he also contributed to the script for the fabulously successful Astaire-Rogers film The Gay Divorcee.

Among the composers with whom he worked (in addition to Gus Kahn) are such men as Vincent Youmans Ned Lehak, Billy Rose,and Jay Gorney. In later years, Eliscu also wrote television scripts.

His work on Broadway and in Hollywood includes:
1929
From Broadway show 'Great Day', music by Vincent Youmans, the songs:
   "Great Day"
   "More Than You Know", Co-lyricist was William Rose.
   "Without a Song", Co-lyricist was William Rose.

And from the Hollywood film 'Flying Down To Rio', which starred Delores Del Rio; Gene Raymond; Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This was the very first film that paired Ginger Rogers with Fred Astaire, - a team that would go on to make history in the great Hollywood musicals. The show had such wonderful songs as:
1933
   "Flying Down to Rio"
   "Music Makes Me", sung by Ginger Rogers in the film.
   "Carioca", This dance sequence launched the team of Astaire and Rogers.
   "Orchids in the Moonlight", a delightful Tango production number.

His marriage to Stella Bloch (1894-1937. b: Chattanooga, TN) produced two sons, and couple remained together throughout their lives. Stella was raised in New York City, and, in 1914, became inspired by one of Isadora Duncan's dance performances. In 1919, she was one of the first dancers to visit Bali and Java to study the dance culture. By this time, she had become a prolific artist working in various mediums including oil and watercolor painting (and later in life, collage). In the 1920's she began frequenting Harlem's Jazz nightclubs; drawing and documenting the African American dancers, singers and musicians performing there before and during the "Jazz Age". Her work is represented in The Collection of the Performing Arts of the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center, as well as in other Universities and museums. This is her Oil on Paper drawing of Bessie Smith.

   Duke Ellington
b. April 29, 1899, Washington, D.C., USA. d. 1974, New York, NY, USA.
Note: Since so much literature is extant on the 'Duke', no further information will be presented here. See also the Duke Ellington Orch., listing in the American Big Bands Database.
Overview
Duke Ellington was one of America's musical giants: a composer, a bandleader, and an arranger. In 1918, Ellington formed his first small band, The Washingtonians', in Washington, D.C. It was the start of a highly successful career that lasted for over a half century. Along with all his recordings, his band also appeared in seven movies.

Duke Ellington is a member of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
Among his greatest hits, are found:
1931 "Mood Indigo"
1932 "It Don't Mean a Thing"
1933 "Sophisticated Lady"
1935 "Solitude"
1936 "In a Sentimental Mood"
1937 "Caravan"
1941 "I Got It Bad"
1942 "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
1958 "Satin Doll"

   "Buddy" Ebsen
b. April 2, 1908, Belleville, IL, USA. d. July 6, 2003, Torrance, CA, USA. Age: 95 (complications from pneumonia.)
né: Christian Rudolph Ebsen Jr.
Actor, Painter, Writer, Composer, Sailor, Artist and musician (sax).
Buddy, the only son born to parents of Danish-German and Latvian descent, had four sisters, - Vilma, Helga, Norma, and Leslie Ebsen. Leslie died in childhood; Helga and Norma lived into their nineties. Vilma (b. Feb. 1911) was the only one to perform with Buddy.

In 1920, the family moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where his father started a dancing school. Both Helga and Norma taught dancing at the Ebsen Studios in Orlando, Florida, and later in Pacific Palisades, California. In addition to dancing at his father's studio, Buddy also learned to paint, but would soon give it up in favor of dancing and acting.

Originally, Buddy Ebsen aspired to be a doctor, and actually spent two years in pre-med studies. However, when the Ebsen family's finances took a turn for the worse, and they had to move, Buddy said good-bye to his goal of being a doctor.

In 1928, he left Florida for New York City, where he 'jerked' sodas while trying to find work as a dancer. He did became a part of the "Stetson Boy Dancers" Vaudeville act, and sent for his sister Vilma. The pair formed a dancing team that played vaudeville, and supper clubs. They also appeared in the Broadway show "Flying Colors". Then, he and Vilma got chorus jobs in the Ziegfeld Follies production of 'Whoopee' (starring Eddie Cantor).

In 1935, Buddy and Vilma went to Hollywood and made their movie debuts, dancing in the film, 'Broadway Melody of 1936', starring Eleanor Powell, and Robert Taylor. Buddy -alone- went on to appear in several movies during that period, acting and dancing opposite such stars as Shirley Temple (in 'Captain January'), and Judy Garland (in "Broadway Melody of 1938"). Later his acting parts would have no dancing and he became mainly a straight actor. He was replaced by actor Jack Haley in the role of the "Tin Man" in the film 'The Wizard of Oz' when aluminum dust in the makeup made him seriously ill. In the 1940s, his career paused while he served in the U. S. Coast Guard during World War II.

In 1962, producer Paul Henning offered Buddy the starring role in a new comedy series to be called The Beverly Hillbillies, in which Ebsen would play the lead role of Jed Clampett. While critics panned the show, the public adored it, and the show ran for nearly ten years (1962-71). In 1973, Ebsen became the star of 'Barnaby Jones', another successful TV show in which he played a folksy "private eye" (1973-79). In the mid-'80s, he played the part of an uncle on the "Matt Houston" TV show.

Buddy had begun to paint while in Florida, but had soon given it up for acting and dancing. However, in his 90s, Buddy Ebsen again ventured into the field of folk art, and selling his own paintings (some featuring his role of 'Jed Clampett') on his own website.

Outside of acting, painting, composing and sailing, Buddy Ebsen was an avid student of United States history and even wrote a play called "The Chamapgne General", about the President of the U. S. A.

Before WWII, Ebsen married Ruth Cambridge, newspaper columnist Walter Winchell's "Girl Friday," and the marriage produced two daughters before ending in divorce. During WWII, he met and married his second wife, Nancy, while both were serving in the Coast Guard. They had four daughters and a son. In 1985, after Nancy's demise, Ebsen married Dorothy Knott.

From all the foregoing, it is clear that Buddy is best recalled as an actor. Few folks will even recall him as a dancer, and even fewer will know that he was also a Composer. Among his works are such tunes as:
   "Original Joe", co-composed with Bonnie Lake.
   "The Handsome Stranger", co-composed with Bonnie Lake.
   "Squeezin' Polka", co-composed with Bonnie Lake.
   "Wild Card", co-composed with Bonnie Lake
   "China Blues" co-written with Bonnie Lake 1957
   "One And One Make Two" co-written with Bonnie Lake (1951)
   "I'll See Ya In Korea" co-written with Bonnie Lake (1950)
   "Go All the Way", co-written with Bonnie Lake (1950)
   "Scat-Man Crothers", co-written with Bonnie Lake (1950)
   "Dagmar, My Jaguar & Me", co-written with Bonnie Lake (1951)
   "The Handsome Stranger", co-written with Bonnie Lake (1950),
   "Behave Yourself", Co-composed with Lew Spence.
   "I'm Davy Crockett's Friend", Co-composed with Paul Mason Howard
   "Snow Shoe Thompson", Co-composed with Paul Mason Howard.
   "Pretty Little Girl With the Red Dress On", Co-composer Paul Mason Howard
   "Mail Order Bride", with Paul Bassman
   "In Love", sole composer.
   "Long Talk With That Boy", sole composer
   "We're All Riding On The Same Space Ship". sole composer.
   "Never Spit To Windward", sole composer.
   "Lahaina", Co-composed with Zeke Manners.
   "The "Cue" music for the Carol Burnett show. Co-composer Zeke Manners.
   "Peach Pickin' Time", Co-composed with Zeke Manners
   "The Turkey Trot", Co-composed with Zeke Manners
   "Piece of the Past", Co-composed with Zeke Manners
   "Be Sure You're Right", co-composer Fess Parker Jr.
   "Man Talk Too Much", co-composer Salvador Camarata, and Fess Parker Jr.
   "Howdy", Co-composed with William Pleasant.

Upon his death, Budddy was survived by his wife, six children, six grandchildren and his sister Vilma.

   Ben Ellison
b. Nov. 7, 1902, Pennsylvania, USA, d. Feb. 1, 1984, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Currently no information available.
Ben, collaborating with Gladys Dubois contributed lyrics to the 1933 Mae West film, "I'm No Angel". with such songs as "They Call Me Sister Honky-Tonk" (1933), "Nobody Loves Me Like That Dallas Man" (1933), "I Found a New Way to Go to Town" (1933), "I'm No Angel" (1933))

Other composers and lyricists who worked on the 1933 film "I'm No Angel", included
Harvey Brookss
Karl Hajos
Herman Hand
Howard Jackson
Rudy Kopp
Heinz Roemheld, and
John Leipold
These men also often worked together on many other films including detective stories such as Bulldog Drummond....., cowboy films such as Gene Autry , and various sci-fi films such as the 'Flash Gordon' and 'Buck Rogers' episodes, among many others. .