Harold Arlen

Hyman Arluck
Born: February 15, 1905, Buffalo, NY
Died: April 23, 1986

An American songwriting legend and son of a cantor, Harold Arlen was fascinated early in his life with the sound of ragtime. While singing in his father's synagogue he also played ragtime piano in local Buffalo bands and accompanied silent films. After arranging for the Buffalodians, Arlen moved to New York. His jobs included arranging for Fletcher Henderson, and serving as a rehearsal pianist for radio and theatre. A vamp he devised while practicing was later turned into the song "Get Happy," with lyrics from Ted Koehler. Arlen and Koehler wrote eight revues for the Cotton Club, one of which included the anthem "Stormy Weather," first performed by Ethel Waters. Though he moved to Hollywood in the '30s, Arlen kept penning songs for Broadway, working with other lyricists like Dorothy Fields, Les Robin, Johnny Mercer, Yip Harburg and Ira Gershwin as well as Koehler. His list of hits and accomplishments is amazing; they include songs for the films Take a Chance, Star-Spangled Rhythm, The Sky's the Limit, and his most famous, The Wizard of Oz. Arlen also composed tunes for the plays Earl Carroll Vanities, Rhythm Mania, and St. Louis Woman. The incredible array of unforgettable compositions include "I've Got the World on a String," "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Over The Rainbow." Numerous jazz artists have recorded his songs, as well as pop performers across the spectrum. Arlen made a few albums as a performer, among them sessions with Duke Ellington and Barbra Streisand. At present only one Arlen album, Harold Sings Arlen, with Streisand is available and it's not on CD. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
 
One of the best and most prolific of Broadway and motion picture composers, Harold Arlen could boast a true "Jazz Singer" background. His father was a cantor in a synagogue, and Arlen made his performing debut singing with his dad during the High Holy Days. Any plans to follow in father's footsteps were forgotten when Arlen went into professional show business at 15, playing the piano for a vaudeville musical trio. The years of barnstorming paid off in 1928 when Arlen's song "Get Happy," first performed in The 9:15 Revue, scored a hit. Among Arlen's best-known collaborators during his busiest movie years were Johnny Mercer (Star-Spangled Rhythm), Ira Gershwin (the 1954 version of A Star is Born) and E. Y. Harburg (The Wizard of Oz). Harold Arlen's string of hits for both Broadway and Hollywood include "Stormy Weather," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Blues in the Night," "That Old Black Magic," "One for My Baby," "Accen-tu-ate the Positive," and of course the Academy Award-winning "Over the Rainbow." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide