Alex Kramer (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Alex J. Kramer was a Canadian songwriter. (Note that he is sometimes referred to as Alex C. Kramer.)
He was born in Montreal, Canada. His parents were Adolph and Freda Kramer. At age 17 he was hired as a pianist in a silent movie
theater in Montreal. He traveled first to Palm Beach, Florida
, joining the Meyer Davis orchestra, and then to Paris and Cannes
, before returning to New York City, where he became a radio bandleader. He also worked as an accompanist in nightclub
s and in vaudeville
.
One of his other musical activities was coaching vocalists in singing techniques, and one of his students was Joan Whitney
, who eventually became both his wife and his songwriting partner. Their first hit as a songwriting team was "High on a Windy Hill," which became a No. 1 hit in 1941 for the Jimmy Dorsey
orchestra.
In 1948, he and his wife started a song publishing firm. However, soon followed the end of the big band
era, leading to the collapse of their publishing business. He eventually became associated with the Bourne Music Publishing Company. He also continued to lead an orchestra, conduct on the radio, and serve as an accompanist in night clubs and what remained of the vaudeville business.
In 1973 he moved to Westport, Connecticut
, where he died a few months short of his 95th birthday.
with Joan Whitney
with Mack David
with Hy Zaret
He was born in Montreal, Canada. His parents were Adolph and Freda Kramer. At age 17 he was hired as a pianist in a silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
theater in Montreal. He traveled first to Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, joining the Meyer Davis orchestra, and then to Paris and Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, before returning to New York City, where he became a radio bandleader. He also worked as an accompanist in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s and in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
.
One of his other musical activities was coaching vocalists in singing techniques, and one of his students was Joan Whitney
Joan Whitney Kramer
Joan Whitney Kramer was an American singer and songwriter.She was born as Zoe Parenteau in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Finch College in New York City. In 1934, while playing a showgirl in The Great Waltz on Broadway, she took the stage name Joan Whitney...
, who eventually became both his wife and his songwriting partner. Their first hit as a songwriting team was "High on a Windy Hill," which became a No. 1 hit in 1941 for the Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
orchestra.
In 1948, he and his wife started a song publishing firm. However, soon followed the end of the big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era, leading to the collapse of their publishing business. He eventually became associated with the Bourne Music Publishing Company. He also continued to lead an orchestra, conduct on the radio, and serve as an accompanist in night clubs and what remained of the vaudeville business.
In 1973 he moved to Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, where he died a few months short of his 95th birthday.
with Joan WhitneyJoan Whitney KramerJoan Whitney Kramer was an American singer and songwriter.She was born as Zoe Parenteau in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Finch College in New York City. In 1934, while playing a showgirl in The Great Waltz on Broadway, she took the stage name Joan Whitney...
- "Ain't Nobody Here But Us ChickensAin't Nobody Here But Us Chickens"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" is a 1946 song, with music and lyrics by Alex Kramer and Joan Whitney. It was recorded by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The single hit number one on the...
" (1946) - "Behave Yourself"
- "Deep as the River" (recorded by Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
in 1949) - "Far Away PlacesFar Away Places"Far Away Places" is an American popular song. It was written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer and published in 1948.The recording by Bing Crosby was released by Decca Records as catalog number 24532. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on December 31, 1948 and lasted 18 weeks...
" (1948) - "High on a Windy Hill" (1940)
- "Love SomebodyLove Somebody"Love Somebody" is a pop standard recorded by Doris Day. The song was written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer and published in 1947.Doris Day and Buddy Clark recorded the song on November 21, 1947. It was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 38174, with the flip side "Confess"...
" (1947) - "Money Is the Root of All Evil" (1945)
- "No Man Is an Island"
- "Deep As The River" (1949?)
with Mack DavidMack DavidMack David was an American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his work in film and television, with a career spanning from the early 1940s through the early 1970s. Mack was credited with writing lyrics and/or music for over one thousand songs...
and Joan WhitneyJoan Whitney KramerJoan Whitney Kramer was an American singer and songwriter.She was born as Zoe Parenteau in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Finch College in New York City. In 1934, while playing a showgirl in The Great Waltz on Broadway, she took the stage name Joan Whitney...
- "CandyCandy (1944 song)"Candy" is a popular song. The music was written by Alex Kramer, the lyrics by Mack David and Joan Whitney. It was published in 1944.The recording by Johnny Mercer and Jo Stafford was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 183. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on...
" (1944) - "It's Love, Love, Love" (1943)
with Hy ZaretHy ZaretHy Zaret was an American Tin Pan Alley lyricist and composer best known as the co-author of the 1955 hit "Unchained Melody", one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.-Biography:...
and Joan WhitneyJoan Whitney KramerJoan Whitney Kramer was an American singer and songwriter.She was born as Zoe Parenteau in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Finch College in New York City. In 1934, while playing a showgirl in The Great Waltz on Broadway, she took the stage name Joan Whitney...
- "My Sister and I" (1941)
- "The Doll With The Sawdust Heart" (1951)