Among his other credits, he wrote the lyric, -Irving Caesar the music, for the song "Lady, Play Your Mandolin" recorded ca. 1931, with Al Bowlly vocal and the Roy Fox Orchestra. (An English Band). Also:
Among the films for which Louis Levy contributed music or full scores are:
Among their best lyrics are:
"On The Street of Dreams", music Victor Young. (Russ Columbo hit)
Lyricist Sam Lewis is a Songwriters' Hall of Fame member.
They became immensely popular in the early 1950's. In the early 60's,
now successful and more able to write the type of music they like, they wrote such songs as:
Both men began their collaboration when they were just 17 years of age. Leiber, a `Blues' enthusiast, was working as an assistant in a record shop.
Stoller was a jazz pianist. Based in Los Angeles, the team supplied that city's 'Rhythm & Blues' artists with much special material.
"Hard Times", their first big hit, was recorded by Charles Brown.
In 1954, the team formed their own 'Spark' record label for the release of material they were writing for a group called 'The Robins'. One year
later, when Leiber and Stoller relocated to New York City, 'The Robins' were re-named 'The Coasters'. Leiber and Stoller gave this vocal group some
of their wittiest and cleverest work, including:
During Leiber and Stoller's stay in New York, they were also contributing to Atlantic Records.
"On Broadway"
When they weren't contributing material to Atlantic Records, the team wrote special material for Elvis Pressley. For Elvis they wrote such songs as:
They did some work for singer Perry Como, and gave vocalist Peggy Lee the song "I'm A Woman", and "Is That All There Is" (a Grammy winner).
In 1964, Leiber and Stoller setup the Blue Cat and the Red Bird record labels. There was a hiatus of several years after which they purchased the King
Records label, and began composing cabaret type material for Peggy Lee.
From the 1970's on, the team went into semi-retirement, only making occasional appearances at various awards ceremonies.
Here is a photo of Linning, whom one writer (Jacobo de Diego) described as :
National deputy Alfredo Bravo (a cousin of Enrique Delfino), called Linning:
Though basically a straight prose writer, he is recalled today for three Tangos to which he supplied the lyrics.
The beautiful Tango "Milonguita" is by far and away his best known Tango. It appeared for the very first time in a one act farce Delikatessen Haus, (book by Linning and Alberto Weisbach) where it was sung by Raquel Meller on May 12th, 1920. (Carlos Gardel also sang it some time later in 1920.) In 1922, "Milonguita" was made into a film with the same name, starring Maria Esther Lerena and Ignacio Corsini.
"Melenita de Oro" debuted on August 25, 1922, in the one act farce Milonguita, where it was performed by Manolita Poli.
"Campana de Plata" was first performed June 10, 1925, in another one act farce named Puente Alsina, and this Tango was again performed by Manolita Poli.
What is most important about "Milonguita" is that In writing the lyric to "Milonguita", Linning and Delfino created a new Tango concept, that is: a complete Tango -words and music. Previously, the music had existed prior to any lryic. The lyric was added after the melody had achieved some fame. "Milonguita" is unique because it represented the first time in Tango history that a lyricist (la poeta) and a composer had joined their talents and created a Tango.
Sidenote on Enrique Delfino:
Oscar Levant
Overview
Oscar Levant was a well known performer who appeared in several Hollywood films of the 1940's. He is remembered as a pianist and recording artist.
"Wacky Dust", Music Levant, lyric Stanley Adams.
"Until Today", music Levant and J.Fred Coots; lyric Benny Davis
"After Dinner Speech", music Levant, lyric Stanley Adams.
Al Lewis
b. April 18, 1901, New York, NY, USA. d. April 4, 1967, New York, NY, USA.
Overview
Al Lewis, recalled today as a lyricist, did occasionally write the music too..He was most active during the 1920's and into the 1950's. (Often confused
with Sam M. Lewis) During this time, he very often worked with fellow lyricist Al Sherman, and with composer Abner Silver. His best known hit songs include:
ca'26 "Gonna Get A Girl", Composer Howard Simon.
1929 "He's So Unusual", Abner Silver music.
1929 "Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night", with Al Sherman.
1930 "Living in the Sunlight, Loving In The Moonlight"
1931 "99 Out of 100 Want To Be Loved", a Rudy Vallee hit vocal.
1931 "Got The Bench, Got The Park", Fred Phillips music.
19?? "Now's The Time To Fall In Love", an Eddie Cantor hit vocal.
1933 "You Gotta Be a Football Hero"
1936 "hypnotized", Abner Silver music.
1940 "Blueberry Hill"
1941 "Rose O'Day"
Louis Levy
b. 1893, d. 1957
Levy is certainly one of the best known English films composers. He enjoyed a very active film career, beginning in 1916 when he worked with Gaumont studios. Between 1928 to 1947, worked for Gainsborough as musical director for all their productions. His Gaumont-British newsreel's March-style title music is very well known.
Evensong (1934)
Alias Bulldog Drummond (1935)
Mr Hobo (1935)
Transatlantic Tunnel (1935)
East Meets West (1936)
First a Girl (1936)
It's Love Again (1936)
Nine Days a Queen (1936)
Passing of the Third Floor Back (1936)
Secret Agent (1936)
Seven Sinners (1936)
Head Over Heels in Love (1936)
Oh Mr. Porter (1937)
Man of Affairs (1937)
Citadel The (1938)
Haunted Honeymoon (1941)
Ghost Train The (1941)
Night Train (1941)
Hasty Heart The (1949)
Woman in a Dressing Gown
(1957)
Morgan Lewis
b. 1906, Rockville, CT, USA.
né: William Morgan Lewis, Jr.
Overview
The team of composer Morgan Lewis and lyricist Nancy Hamilton wrote their songs primarily for the Broadway stage. Probably their most famous work is "How High the Moon," written for the 1940 Broadway musical 'Two for the Show'. The song was a big 1951 hit for the Les Paul and vocalist/wife Mary Ford recording.
Sam M. Lewis
b. Oct. 25, 1885, New York, NY, USA. d. Nov. 22, 1959, New York, NY, USA.
Overview
Also See Joe Young Entry
Sam was actively writing from 1912 through the 1930's. From 1916 into the 1930's, his principal collaborator was Joe Young, but he did write with some other well known composers. It is interesting to note that most composing teams consisted of a music writer and a lyricist. However, the team of Sam M. Lewis nad Joe Young are rather unique. The were a team of Lyricists, - who collaborated with various tune composers. Lyricists Sam Lewis and Joe Young were a Tin Pan Alley poweerhouse combination, an astounding number of hit songs had their lyrics.
1918
"Rockabye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody", with Joe Young; music by Jean Schwartz.
Sung by Al Jolson in B'way play 'Sinbad'.
1924/5
"Dinah", with Joe Young and Harry Akst, B'way show 'Sinbad' starring Al Jolson.
(Later, also in 'Plantation Revue' starring Ethel Waters.)
"Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue". Ray Henderson melody.
"I'm Sitting on Top of the World". Ray Henderson melody.
1926
"In a Little, Spanish Town". Mabel Wayne music.
"There's a Cradle in Caroline", with Joe Young and Fred Ahlert. Introduced in
film 'Spring is Here'.
"My Mammy", with Walter Donaldson and Joe Young
"Everyone Loves My Girl", with Maurice Abraham and Joe Young
1928
"Laugh, Clown, Laugh". Music by bandleader Ted Fiorito.
1929 - Onward.(The following dates are only approximate.)
"I Kiss Your Lovely Hand, Madame."
"Crying For the Carolines", with Harry Warren and Joe Young
"I Used to Love Her In The Moonlight", with Joe Young; music by Ted Fiorito.
1930
"Telling It To The Daisies", with Harry Warren and Joe Young
"Have A Little Faith In Me", with Joe Young, Harry Warren music
introduced in film 'Spring Is Here', starring Lawrence Gray and Bernice Hare.
"I Used To Love Her In The Moonlight", with Ted Fiorito and Joe Young
"In A Little Spanish Town", with Joe Young, and Mabel Wayne music.
"For All We Know", with J. Fred Coots music.
"Things Might Have Been So Different", with J. Fred Coots
1931
"Too Late", with Victor Young music
"Street of Dreams", with Victor Young
1932
"Lord, You Made the Night Too Long", with Victor Young ( Later, this melody was adapted to a comedy song titled, "Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long" )
"Just Friends", Music John Klenner. (A huge Russ Columbo hit)
"I Believe in Miracles", with George Meyer and Pete Wendling
"It Never Dawned On Me", with J. Fred Coots
"Just Friends", with John Klenner(A Russ Columbo Hit vocal)
"This Time It's Love", music by J.Fred Coots.
1934
"For All We Know", Music J. Fred Coots.
1936
"Gloomy Sunday"
Jerry Leiber
b. April 25, 1933, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Please see our Mike Stoller entry in this Tunesmiths Database for more interesting information on this
talented team of composers. It is absolutely no exageration to say that Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller are among the most important songwriters and music producers in post-World War II popular music
Overview
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were the Kings of the Rock and Roll era. The team was responsible for creating a large number of rock and roll' tunes, written for then unknown young Black vocal groups, such as the Coasters and others. Their songs, such as,
"Black Denin Trousers and Motorcycle Boots"
"Love Potion No. Nine"
"Searchin'"
"Little Egypt"
"Riot In Cell Block No. Nine"
"Is That All There Is" A huge hit for Peggie Lee
They formed their own publishing company and issued songs such as:
"Let's Bring Back World War 1"
"I've Got Those Feeling Too Good Blues"
"Ready To Begin Again" from B'way play 'Mad Woman of Chaillot'
"Style, Baby, Style"
"Next Year Baby"
"Hound Dog", Elvis Pressley hit,and later Wilbert Harrison hit record.
"K.C.Lovin'", was later re-named "Kansas City". A 'Big Mama Thornton' hit.
"Smokey Joe's Cafe"
"Searchin''
"Yakety Yak"
"Charley Brown"
"Lucky Lips", a Ruth Brown vocal hit.
"Saved", a Lavern Baker hit record.But it is probable that the 'Drifters' vocal group got the teams best material.
"Spanish Harlem"
"There Goes My Baby"
"I (Who Have Nothing)"
"Stand By Me"
"Jailhouse Rock"
"Baby, I Don't Care"
"Lovin' You"
"Treat Me Nice"
"Latest Flame"
Joseph J. Lilley
Overview
Lilley was under a Paramount Pictures contract to compose songs for their films. In 1936, he wrote some melodies with lyrics by Frank Loesser. See Loesser entry.
Harry Link
né: Harry Linkey
b. Jan. 25, 1896, Philadelphia, PA, USA. d. July 5, 1956, New York, NY, USA.
Overview
Harry matriculated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and during his career he also worked as the General Manager for various music publishing firms. As early as 1916, Harry Link appeared as an actor in the film, 'The Masked Rider', but he was most active during the 1932-1987 years. In 1932, he contributed songs to the film 'Blondie of the Follies'.
Among the songs he composed (often working with Lyricists Jack Strachey, and
Eric Maschwitz ) are:
"By My Side"
"Gone"
"I Hate To Leave You Now"
"I Worry About You"
"I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling", collaborated with Fats Waller.
"Me, Myself, and I"
"The More I See of Somebody Else, The More I Love You"
"No One Loves You Any More Than I Do"
"Peelin' The Peach"
"Please Tell Me That You Love Me"
"Take It Easy"
"Tell Me While We're Dancing"
"There's A Ring Around My Rainbow"
"These Foolish Things (French title: "Ces Petites Choses", lyric Jack Strachey)
"Until We Meet Again Sweetheart"
"You're The One I Care For"
Samuel Linning
né: Samuel Guillermo Eduardo Linning
b. July 12, 1888, Montevideo, Uruguay. d. October 16, 1925, Adrogué, Bs. As., Argentina.
Samuel was the son of a Belgium father and a Basque (Spain) mother (her surname: Minteguiaga). The family had emigrated to Uruguay when
Linning was still a child. While still adolescent, Linning moved across the mouth of the Rio De La Plata, to the neighboring city of Buenos Aires,
Argentina. There, he studied, at the Colegio Centra. After graduating with a bachelor's degree, he found work as a journalist for the newspaper
'La Razon', and also as a theatre critic for the literary publication 'Nosotros'.
"....blond, very meticulous in dress, with walking cane and white
gloves, and a nervous slight grimace. He could enjoy Beethoven
and was delighted with Maeterlinck's verses."
"....a dandy, furthermore, very fluid in speech, filled with poetic
images in his conversation."
1. Milonguita", music: Enrique Pedro Delfino.
2. Melenita de Oro", music: Carlos Vicente Geroni Flores
3. Campana de Plata", music: Carlos Vicente Geroni Flores
When "Milonquita" was written, composer/pianist Enrique Pedro Delfino was just 25 years old. Previously (during his "Montevidean period") Delfino had already composed some Tango compositions, including "Re Fa Si" and "Sans Souci", among others. In 1920, Delfino had just returned to Buenos Aires after having recorded -together with Tito Roccatagliata and Osvaldo Fresedo- some 60 Tangos, in RCA Victor's Camden, New Jersey, USA studios. Upon his return to Buenos Aires, he and Linning joined talents to produce the wonderful song "Milonquita"
Edna Fischer
piano/composer
b: Oakland (?), CA, USA, d: Nov. 2, 1997.
This child prodigy was playing the piano before she was old enough to even attend school. After graduating from Berkeley High School she toured with the show, "Topsy and Eva" starring the Duncan Sisters. Her friendship with the Duncan sisters would last a lifetime, even collaborating with them on several of her own compositions. While still in her teens, she performed at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. At a very early age, she was first heard on radio station KRE. In 1926, after recuperating from a multiple fracture of her right wrist (due to a auto accident), she became a regular on Radio Station KFRC and was heard on the "Happy Go Lucky Hour", and the "Blue Monday Jamboree," where she co-starred with Morey Amsterdam (Cellist/Actor) and Tommy Harris (Vocs). (Here's a photo of Tommy Harris, a singer who
later had his own club Tommy's Place, where he led his own small group with Ernie Filice on accordion, Jimmy Davis on guitar, Lyle Daniels on violin, Truman Johnson on Bass, and Tommy on vocals. Harris was just age 14 when he was heard singing on Station KFRC. He and Joaquin Garay were the regulars on the station's show called Feminine Fancies.) In 1928, Fischer married Milton C. Hayes, then a purser for Oceanic Lines steamship company, and later general manager of the Press Club of San Francisco. (Hayes passed away in 1981.) After her days at station KFRC, she went on to play on a great many radio shows including one of her own. In the late 1930s, her radio program "Stars in the Making" (heard on NBC's station KPO) showcased San Francisco's budding musical talents. (She would reprise the show in 1983.) For the next 2 decades, Fischer was heard on NBC and KPO, -often on the Signal Oil Company's show Carefree Carnival, co-starring Meredith Wilson and Tommy Harris (with whom she had worked at station KFRC.) A reader has sent this photo (which was credited to David Alexander, son-in-law of Alice Sizer.) of Meredith Wilson and the William Sisters, ehearsing for a 1937 episode of the Carefree Carnival Show. (L-R: Laura Williams is standing, next to her is Alice Sizer, and Ethelyn Williams is seated. Here's a 1930s NBC station KPO publicity photo of
Edna Fischer. In addition to playing the piano, Fischer also composed several tunes including 1929's, "Someday Soon" with lyrics by the Duncan Sisters (Columbia label: Anson Weeks and his Orchestra). In 1930, She and Anson Weeks co-composed the tune "Sorry", with the lyric again by the Duncan Sisters (Vivian and Rosetta ). Among the other tunes she composed are "Bored To Tears", (Edna Fischer), "Dream in My Heart", (Edna Fischer), "Driftwood", lyric by Al Garman and Vick Knight, "God Had His Arm Around Me" with Al Garman lyric, and "That Man In My Life", (Edna Fischer). She also composed the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition Theme Song, "There's Lots of Fun Over on Treasure Island". In 1942, Decca Records recorded Bing Crosby singing her composition "My Great, Great Grandfather". During WWII, she entertained at various Service Camps, Bond Rallies, and such. With the advent of television in the late 40s and early 1950s, Fischer became music director of KPIX-TV, where, she worked with bandleader Del Courtney's Orch., among others. By the mid-'50s, her career tapered off and she was mostly inactive. But in 1983, two years after her husband's demise, Fischer again appeared in a new edition of "Stars in the Making", this time on San Francisco's National PublicRadio station KALW-FM. In 1997, she died in her sleep, age 95.
John Latouche
Overview
b. Nov. 13, 1914, Baltimore, MD, USA (raised in Richmond, Virginia), d. August 7, 1957, Calais, Vermont, USA. (heart attack)
Here's a photograph (source unknown) of lyricist,John Latouche. Although he studied at New York's Columbia University, he never graduated. The 1937 revue "Pins and Needles" had two of his songs. It is interesting to note that the 1939 Broadway musical "Sing For Your Supper" featured two songs with his lyrics, one of which was "Ballad for Uncle Sam", with music by Earl Robinson. The tune was later re-named "Ballad for Americans", and became a National hit after it's performance by singer Paul Robeson on the CBS radio network.;. Subsequently, Bing Crosby also regularly performed it. One interesting note is that became the featured song (1939) at both the Republican Convention, and the American Communist Party Convention. The success of "Ballad For Americans" afforded him the opportunity to continue writing, and he next provided the lyrics for Vernon Duke's "Cabin in the Sky" (1940) and "Banjo Eyes" (1941), starring famed comedian Eddie Cantor. In 1954 he wrote both the book and the lyrics for "The Golden Apple" with music by Jerome Moross. In 1955, he provided some lyrics for Leonard Bernstein's "Candide". A protégé of writer James Branch Cabell, a sudden heart attack in 1957, all too early ended Latouche's career. He was only 41.
