Sigmund Romberg
b. July 29, 1887, Nagykanizsa (Szeged), Hungary
d. Nov. 9, 1951, New York, NY, USA
Overview:
Born in Hungary, Romberg emigrated to the U.S. in 1909. After getting a few songs published, he came to the attention of the Schubert Brothers. They engaged him to score the show 'Whirl of the World'. It was the start of his career. His best operettas was composed in the 1920's, and revived again in the mid-1930's, as Hollywood film musicals. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy were often starred. Romberg was the last in the line of American operetta composers that began with Reginald De Koven, continued with Victor Herbert, then Rudolph Friml, and finally closed with Sigmund Romberg.

His father was an amateur musician, and his mother, a poet-writer. At age six, Sigmund started the violin and at age eight, the piano. But his parents wanted to insure a 'practical' career and enrolled him in Osiek Realschule, in preperation for a career in engineering. One of the professors was also the school's orchestra leader, and when he heard Romberg play his fiddle, he waived the school's rule preventing students joining the band before their fifth year. After five years in the Realschule, he was tranferred to other schools. At one, he composed a march, dedicated to the town's Grand Duchess, head of the local Red Cross Chapter.

Romberg completed his engineering courses at Vienna's Politechnische Hochschule. Here, in 'Alt Wien' (Old Vienna) he found the music and air of excitement to be absolutely infectious. He began study in harmony and composition with Victor Heuberger. He attended operas and concerts whenever he could. One of his friends gained him backstage admission to the Theater-an-der-Wien, so that he could watch the rehearsals. For a brief period, he was the theater's assistant stage manager.

Finally, Romberg got his degree in Engineering, and entered the Hungarian Military - the 19th Hungarian Infantry Regiment, then stationed in Vienna, serving for over a year and a half. It during this time, that he began to consider emigrating to America. (He thought there would be less musical competition in the U.S.)

In 1909, at age 22, he arrived in New York City with his life savings of $300.00. He found a job in a pencil factory for $7.00 per week. After awhile, he was able to get employment as a house pianist, in a cafe (on Second Ave.) for $15.00 per week. Not long afterwards, he was hired by the Pabst-Harlem Restaurant, for the magnificent sum of $55.00 per week. In 1912, Bustanoby's, one of New York's best, hired him to conduct the house salon orchestra. It was there that he came up with a new idea. Each night, he would include one number meant for dancing. Dancing in public was still frowned upon, but somehow or other, the idea caught on, making Bustanoby's a popular rendezvous. Romberg's salary went to $150.00 per week, not an inconsiderable sum in 1912. He began to compose dance music. "Leg of Mutton" and "Some Smoke" were One-Step Dances, published by 'Tin Pan Alley'.

In 1914, Louis Hirsch, house composer for the Schubert Brothers, resigned his post. The Schuberts then hired Romberg to be his replacement. In 1914 he scored his first Broadway musical, 'The Whirl of the World'. It was staged at the Wintergarden Theater, and starred the Dolly Sisters, and Willie and Eugene Howard. The success of the show insured Romberg's future on the Broadway stage. That was 1914. By 1917, Romberg had already written more than 300 songs for over 17 musicals. Among these shows were several Al Jolson musicals at the Wintergarden; several editions of 'The Passing Show', and, in 1915, 'The Blue Paradise' operetta. For the Blue Paradise, he wrote his first big hit, "Auf Wiedersehen", with lyric by Herbert Reynolds.

Romberg continued with the Schuberts writing musical comedies and revues. But his greatest fame was to come with operettas in the European tradition.

His most famous operettas were
1917 'Maytime'
   "Will You Remember", lyric Rida Johnson Young.

After 'Maytime', Romberg scored several musical shows including some starring Fred and Adele Astaire, and for Al Jolson.

During WW1, Romberg served in the U.S.Army, writing and playing musical shows that traveled between camps.

After WW1, he tried producing two Broadway musicals, both of which failed.

1921 'Blossom Time', based on life of Franz Shubert. It was an adaptation of a popular German Operetta. Songs were based themes from Shubert's "Unfinished Symphony". All the lyrics were by Dorothy Donnelly.
   "Song of Love"
   "Three Little Maids"
   "Tell Me Daisy"
   "Lonely Heart"
   "My Springtime Thou Art"

1924 'The Student Prince in Heidelberg'. Also an adaptation of a German Operetta. All lyrics were by Dorothy Donnelly, who also did the American text.
   "Deep In My Heart"
   "Golden Days"
   "Serenade"
   "Drinking Song"

1926 'Desert Song'. An American product with book and lyrics by Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel, and Oscar Hammerstein, II.
   "Desert Song", the title song.
   "One Alone", the biggest hit.
   "The Saber Song"
   "French Marching Song"

1928 'The New Moon'. The last Romberg Operetta. lyric Oscar Hammerstein, II.
   "Stout Hearted Men"
   "One Kiss"
   "Lover Come Back to Me", adapted from a Tschaikowsky piano composition.
   "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise"

1929 Romberg traveled to Hollywood, and scored some films:
   'Viennese Nights'
   'The Night is Young', with it's hit song: "When I Grow Too Old To Dream"

1935 'May Wine'

1938 'Girl of the Golden West', MGM film with Jeanette MacDonald, and Nelson Eddy. Lyrics by Gus Kahn.
    "Who Are We to Say"

In 1942, the William Morris Agency had Romberg form an orchestra, which went on tour a little after the Pearl Harbor attack. Three of the tours were financial failures, but a fourth tour, started in 1943 at Carnegie Hall in New York, was a big hit. The concerts were then billed as 'An Evening with Sigmund Romberg."

1945 The Broadway musical 'Up In Central Park', was Romberg's last successful show. The Lyrics were by Dorothy Fields
   "Close as Pages in a Book"
   "Carousel in the Park" Sigmund Romberg died on November 9, 1951. He had just completed his last score; a musical comedy called 'The Girl In Pink Tights'. It opened on March 5, 1954, and it failed.
   "Up in the Elevated Railway", The lyric by Leo Robin.
   "Lost in Loveliness", lyric by Leo Robin.

The 1954 MGM movie 'Deep in My Heart' was based on the life of Romberg and featured many of his most famous songs. Jose Ferrer was the star.

Sigmund Romberg is a Songwriters' Hall of Fame member.