James Vincent Monaco
Encyclopedia
James Vincent Monaco was an Italian
-born American
composer of popular music
.
Monaco was born in Fornia, Italy
; his family emigrated to Albany, New York
when he was six. He worked as a ragtime player in Chicago
before moving to New York. Monaco's first successful song "Oh, You Circus Day" was featured in the 1912 Broadway
revue
Hanky Panky. Further success came with "Row, Row, Row" (lyrics by William Jerome
) in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1912
. Perhaps his best remembered song is "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)
" (lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
) introduced by Al Jolson
in 1913 and performed by Judy Garland
with revised lyrics as "Dear Mr Gable" in 1937.
Monaco worked with a number of lyricists before moving to Hollywood where he teamed with lyricist Johnny Burke
to produce songs for several Bing Crosby
films.
Monaco died in Beverly Hills, California
.
Monaco was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 1970.
In 2005, a revue of Monaco's music called Ragtime Jimmie opened in New York City as part of the American Composer Series
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer of popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
.
Monaco was born in Fornia, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; his family emigrated to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
when he was six. He worked as a ragtime player in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
before moving to New York. Monaco's first successful song "Oh, You Circus Day" was featured in the 1912 Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
Hanky Panky. Further success came with "Row, Row, Row" (lyrics by William Jerome
William Jerome
William Jerome was an American songwriter, born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York of Irish immigrant parents, Mary Donnellan and Patrick Flannery...
) in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1912
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....
. Perhaps his best remembered song is "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)
You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)
"You Made Me Love You " is a popular song.The music was written by James V. Monaco, the lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. The song was published in 1913. It was introduced in the Broadway revue The Honeymoon Express....
" (lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy (lyricist)
Joseph McCarthy was an American lyricist whose most famous songs include You Made Me Love You, and I'm Always Chasing Rainbows, based upon the haunting melody from the middle section of Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu".McCarthy, who was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, was a frequent collaborator...
) introduced by Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
in 1913 and performed by Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
with revised lyrics as "Dear Mr Gable" in 1937.
Monaco worked with a number of lyricists before moving to Hollywood where he teamed with lyricist Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke (lyricist)
Johnny Burke was a lyricist, widely regarded as one of the finest writers of popular songs in America between the 1920s and 1950s.-Biography:...
to produce songs for several Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
films.
Monaco died in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.
Awards and recognition
Four of Monaco's songs received Academy Award nominations for Best Song:- "Only Forever" (lyrics by Johnny Burke) from the 1940 film Rhythm on the RiverRhythm on the RiverRhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. James V...
- "We Mustn't Say Goodbye" (lyrics by Al DubinAl DubinAlexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:...
) from the 1943 film Stage Door CanteenStage Door CanteenStage Door Canteen is a musical film produced by Sol Lesser Productions and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by Frank Borzage and features many cameo appearances by celebrities, and the majority of the film is essentially a filmed concert although there is also a storyline to the... - "I'm Making Believe" (lyrics by Mack GordonMack GordonMack Gordon was an American composer and lyricist of songs for the stage and film. He was nominated for the best original song Oscar nine times, including six consecutive years between 1940 and 1945, and won the award once, for "You'll Never Know"...
) from the 1944 film Sweet and LowdownSweet and LowdownSweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen which tells the story of a fictional arrogant, obnoxious, alcoholic jazz guitarist named Emmet Ray who regards himself as perhaps the best guitarist in the world, or second best, after his idol, Django Reinhardt... - "I Can't Begin to Tell You" (lyrics by Mack Gordon) from the 1945 film The Dolly SistersThe Dolly SistersThe Dolly Sisters is a 1945 American biographical film about the Dolly Sisters, identical twins who became famous as entertainers on Broadway and in Europe in the early years of the twentieth century. It starred Betty Grable as Jenny and June Haver as Rosie.-Cast:*Betty Grable as Yansci "Jenny"...
. This was a posthumous nomination.
Monaco 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...
in 1970.
In 2005, a revue of Monaco's music called Ragtime Jimmie opened in New York City as part of the American Composer Series
American Composer Series
The American Composer Series is an ongoing performance series in the cabaret revue format, paying tribute to the greatest composers of popular American music on the American scene, particularly those composers associated with Tin Pan Alley...
.