Grant Clarke
Encyclopedia
Grant Clarke was an American songwriter
.
Clarke moved to New York City
early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians. He began working on Tin Pan Alley
, where he contributed music to films such as The Jazz Singer
(1927), Weary River (1928), On With the Show (1929), and Is Everybody Happy?
(1929).
He wrote the lyrics to the show Dixie to Broadway, and also contributed to the 1921 Ziegfeld Follies
and Bombo
. Later in his career he became a charter member of ASCAP and was successful in the music publishing business.
Clarke was the author of the lyrics to many popular songs of the 1910s and 1920s, working with composers such as George W. Meyer
, Harry Akst
, James V. Monaco, Al Piantadosi, Fred Fisher
, Harry Warren
, Arthur Johnston
, James Hanley, Lewis F. Muir
and Milton Ager
.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Clarke moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians. He began working on Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century...
, where he contributed music to films such as The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer (1927 film)
The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences, its release heralded the commercial ascendance of the "talkies" and the decline of the silent film era. Produced by Warner Bros. with its Vitaphone sound-on-disc system,...
(1927), Weary River (1928), On With the Show (1929), and Is Everybody Happy?
Is Everybody Happy?
Is Everybody Happy? is a catchphrase of Ted Lewis that was made into two films starring him:*Is Everybody Happy? *Is Everybody Happy? Is Everybody Happy? may also refer to:-Music:...
(1929).
He wrote the lyrics to the show Dixie to Broadway, and also contributed to the 1921 Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
and Bombo
Bombo
Bombo is a British computer game published by Rino for the Commodore 64.-Plot:Taken from the game's instructions:A wave of insurrection has left the earth littered with bombs primed to explode and destroy mankind.Your commission is to clear the pyramids of ancient Egypt, castles of medieval Britain...
. Later in his career he became a charter member of ASCAP and was successful in the music publishing business.
Clarke was the author of the lyrics to many popular songs of the 1910s and 1920s, working with composers such as George W. Meyer
George W. Meyer
George W. Meyer aka Geo. W. Meyer was an American Tin Pan Alley songwriter....
, Harry Akst
Harry Akst
Harry Akst was an American songwriter, who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson.-Life and career:Akst was born in New York, United States....
, James V. Monaco, Al Piantadosi, Fred Fisher
Fred Fisher
Fred Fisher was a German-born American songwriter and Tin Pan Alley music publisher. Fisher founded Fred Fisher Music Publishing Company in 1907. He was born as Albert von Breitenbach in Cologne...
, Harry Warren
Harry Warren
Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,...
, Arthur Johnston
Arthur Johnston
Arthur Johnston was a Scottish poet and physician. He was born in Caskieben near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire...
, James Hanley, Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir
Lewis F. Muir, born Louis Meuer was an American composer and ragtime pianist.Muir started as a pianist in St. Louis and played in the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. He moved to New York in 1910. His first published composition was "Play That Barber-Shop Chord" from 1910. Vaudeville entertainer...
and Milton Ager
Milton Ager
Milton Ager was an American composer.Ager was born in Chicago, Illinois, the sixth of nine children. Leaving school with only three years of formal high-school education, he taught himself to play the piano and embarked on a career as a musician. After spending time as an accompanist to silent...
.
Discography
A list of Clarke's most prominent works:- Dat’s Harmony
- Ragtime Cowboy Joe
- He’d Have to Get Under
- When You’re in Love With Someone
- In the Land of Beginning Again
- Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia
- Am I Blue
- Second Hand Rose
- Oogie Oogie Wa Wa
- Dirty Hands, Dirty Face
- I’m a Little Blackbird Looking for a Bluebird