Harry Carroll
Encyclopedia
Harry Carroll, a famous American
songwriter, pianist and composer, was born on November 28, 1892, in Atlantic City, New Jersey
and died December 26, 1962, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
. He taught himself how to play the piano
and began playing in movie houses before he finished grade school. After he graduated from high school, he moved to New York City
, where he worked as an arranger in Tin Pan Alley and at night entertained at the Garden Café and accompanied various vaudeville
shows.
In 1912, Carroll was hired by the Schubert brothers' Winter Garden
productions as a contract writer. He worked with Arthur Fields to produce his first hit, On the Mississippi. He wrote several Broadway stage scores including some popular favorites: "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
" (based on a section of Fantaisie-Impromptu
by Frédéric Chopin
), "By the Beautiful Sea" and "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
". Harry married Anna Wheaton and together they had one child. Later he moved west to Los Angeles
and became involved in early movies. He served as the director of ASCAP from 1914 to 1917. In 1970, eight years after his death, Carroll was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
Carroll married Estelle Cooper, a Rockette, and had two children, then married Anne Weaton, a stage actress.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter, pianist and composer, was born on November 28, 1892, in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
and died December 26, 1962, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania
Mount Carmel is the name of a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6390 at the 2000 census. It is located 88 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 71 miles northeast of Harrisburg, in the Anthracite Coal Region...
. He taught himself how to play the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and began playing in movie houses before he finished grade school. After he graduated from high school, he 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...
, where he worked as an arranger in Tin Pan Alley and at night entertained at the Garden Café and accompanied various 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...
shows.
In 1912, Carroll was hired by the Schubert brothers' Winter Garden
Winter Garden
Winter Garden may refer to:* A winter garden, winter-hardy plants grown for winter interest and decoration, or to be harvested for food between winter and early spring.-Places:* Winter Garden, California, former community in Kern County...
productions as a contract writer. He worked with Arthur Fields to produce his first hit, On the Mississippi. He wrote several Broadway stage scores including some popular favorites: "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is a popular song. The music is credited to Harry Carroll, although the melody is actually adapted from Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin. The lyrics were written by Joseph McCarthy, and the song was published in 1917 and introduced in the Broadway show Oh, Look!...
" (based on a section of Fantaisie-Impromptu
Fantaisie-Impromptu
Frédéric Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. 66, is a solo piano composition and one of his best-known pieces. It was composed in 1834 and dedicated to Julian Fontana, who published the piece in spite of Chopin's request not to do so....
by Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
), "By the Beautiful Sea" and "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (song)
"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" is a popular song published in 1913, with lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and music by Harry Carroll. In the song the singer expresses his love for June who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The chorus is:...
". Harry married Anna Wheaton and together they had one child. Later he moved west to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and became involved in early movies. He served as the director of ASCAP from 1914 to 1917. In 1970, eight years after his death, Carroll was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
.
Carroll married Estelle Cooper, a Rockette, and had two children, then married Anne Weaton, a stage actress.