Alberta Nichols
Encyclopedia
Alberta Nichols was a popular songwriter of the 1930s and 40s. Together with her husband, lyricist Mann Holiner, they composed over 100 songs, of which their most famous were "Until the Real Thing Comes Along
" and "A Love Like Ours".
and studied piano at the Louisville Conservatory with George Copeland
and Alfred Calzin. Her career spanned writing for vaudeville, radio, musical theater and the movies. In 1931 Nichols and Holiner collaborated with Sammy Cahn
, Saul Chaplin
and L.E. Freeman for the Broadway show "Rhapsody in Black". The group of five also co-wrote "Until the Real Thing Comes Along
". Alec Wilder, of American Popular Song
suggested that Nichols was the real composer of the song. Among the many singers who performed the song over the years, Billie Holiday recorded the song in 1942. Holiday was a close friend of the Nichols-Holiners.
Nichols and Holiner wrote the music for several Broadway shows, including "Blackbirds of 1933
", and "Angela
", which starred Jeannette MacDonald.
Collaborating with Cahn, Chapin and Freeman, the Nichols-Holiners team wrote the music for the film "Rhapsody in Black". "A Love Like Ours" considered by Virginia Grattan to be one of the best songs of the duo, was in the film "Two Girls and a Sailor
" starring Van Johnson
and June Allyson
.
Other songs from the Nichols-Holiner team were: "There Never Was a Town like Paris," "Sing a Little Tune," "You Can't Stop Me from Loving You," and "Why Shouldn't It Happen to Us?" (published in 1945, and recorded by Frank Sinatra)
Alberta Nichols died in Hollywood on February 4, 1957.
Broadway Shows that featured Nichols' music
Movies that featured Nichols' music
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
" Until the Real Thing Comes Along" is a popular song first published in 1936.According to one version of the original sheet music, the songwriting credits read: "Words and Music by Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin and L.E. Freeman"....
" and "A Love Like Ours".
Biography
Nichols was born in Lincoln, Illinois on December 3, 1898and studied piano at the Louisville Conservatory with George Copeland
George Copeland
George Copeland was an American classical pianist known primarily for his championship of the French composer Claude Debussy in the early 20th century and his interpretations of modern Spanish piano works.-Career:...
and Alfred Calzin. Her career spanned writing for vaudeville, radio, musical theater and the movies. In 1931 Nichols and Holiner collaborated with Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, Saul Chaplin
Saul Chaplin
Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley...
and L.E. Freeman for the Broadway show "Rhapsody in Black". The group of five also co-wrote "Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
" Until the Real Thing Comes Along" is a popular song first published in 1936.According to one version of the original sheet music, the songwriting credits read: "Words and Music by Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin and L.E. Freeman"....
". Alec Wilder, of American Popular Song
suggested that Nichols was the real composer of the song. Among the many singers who performed the song over the years, Billie Holiday recorded the song in 1942. Holiday was a close friend of the Nichols-Holiners.
Nichols and Holiner wrote the music for several Broadway shows, including "Blackbirds of 1933
Blackbirds of 1933
Blackbirds of 1933 is a musical revue that debuted Dec 2, 1933 at the Apollo Theatre in New York. It featured the premiere of the Joseph Young/Ned Washington standard "A Hundred Years From Today."-Productions:...
", and "Angela
Angela
- Geography :* Angela Lake, in Volusia County, Florida* Lake Angela, in Lyon Township, Oakland County, Michigan* Lake Angela, the reservoir impounded by the source dam of the South Yuba River-Literature:...
", which starred Jeannette MacDonald.
Collaborating with Cahn, Chapin and Freeman, the Nichols-Holiners team wrote the music for the film "Rhapsody in Black". "A Love Like Ours" considered by Virginia Grattan to be one of the best songs of the duo, was in the film "Two Girls and a Sailor
Two Girls and a Sailor
Two Girls and a Sailor is a 1944 musical film about two singing sisters who are helped to set up a canteen to entertain soldiers by a mysterious wealthy admirer. It featured a host of celebrity performances, including Jimmy Durante doing his hallmark "Inka Dinka Doo", Gracie Allen, and Lena Horne...
" starring Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
and June Allyson
June Allyson
June Allyson was an American film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was a major MGM contract star. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in Too Young to Kiss . From 1959–1961, she hosted and occasionally starred in her own CBS anthology...
.
Other songs from the Nichols-Holiner team were: "There Never Was a Town like Paris," "Sing a Little Tune," "You Can't Stop Me from Loving You," and "Why Shouldn't It Happen to Us?" (published in 1945, and recorded by Frank Sinatra)
Alberta Nichols died in Hollywood on February 4, 1957.
Music
Songs- "A Love Like Ours" (Two Girls and a Sailor)
- "Until the Real Thing Comes Along"
- "There Never Was a Town like Paris"
- "Sing a Little Tune"
- "You Can't Stop Me from Loving You"
- "Why Shouldn't It Happen to Us?"
- "I'm Walkin' The Chalk Line"
- "Your Mother's Son-in-Law"
- "I Just Couldn't Take it Baby"
- "Sing a Little Tune"
- "I Can't Believe its True" (Angela)
- "Maybe So" (Angela)
- "The Regal Romp" (Angela)
Broadway Shows that featured Nichols' music
- Gay Paree (1926)
- Angela
- Luckee Girl
- Rhapdsody in Black (1931)
Movies that featured Nichols' music
- Blackbirds of 1934 (1934)
- Two Girls and a SailorTwo Girls and a SailorTwo Girls and a Sailor is a 1944 musical film about two singing sisters who are helped to set up a canteen to entertain soldiers by a mysterious wealthy admirer. It featured a host of celebrity performances, including Jimmy Durante doing his hallmark "Inka Dinka Doo", Gracie Allen, and Lena Horne...
(1944)