Jay Gorney
Encyclopedia
Jay Gorney was an American
theater and film song writer. He was born Abraham Jacob Gornetzsky in Białystok, Russia
(now part of Poland
) on December 12, 1894. In 1906, he witnessed the Bialystock pogrom
which forced his family into hiding for nearly two weeks, after which they fled to the United States. His family settled in Detroit, Michigan
where his father became an engineer at the newly formed Ford Motor Company
. His mother bought a piano for her children. After two years of lessons, at age 14, Gorney was offered a job as a pianist at a local nickelodeon
.
He worked his way through the University of Michigan
(Class of 1917), and the University of Michigan Law School
(Class of 1919), as a pianist. His studies were interrupted by World War I
, during which he enlisted in the Navy
. After graduating, he practiced law only briefly, then turned instead to his love of music, relocating with his wife to New York City
, where he began his song writing career on Tin Pan Alley
. He contributed numerous songs to musicals by the Shubert brothers. Later, Ira Gershwin
introduced him to lyricist Yip Harburg
, who became a frequent collaborator. The pair's most famous song was "Brother Can You Spare A Dime," based on a lullaby that Gorney learned as a child in Russia. It first appeared in the 1932 Shubert production of New Americana and became the anthem of the Great Depression. The Gorney-Harburg partnership ended when Harburg took up with Gorney's wife, whom he subsequently married.
Gorney's daughter from his second marriage, Karen Lynn Gorney
, is an actress and dancer who was in the original cast of All My Children
and played opposite John Travolta
in Saturday Night Fever
.
Gorney's 2005 biography, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Life of Composer Jay Gorney, was written by his widow Sondra.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theater and film song writer. He was born Abraham Jacob Gornetzsky in Białystok, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(now part of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) on December 12, 1894. In 1906, he witnessed the Bialystock pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
which forced his family into hiding for nearly two weeks, after which they fled to the United States. His family settled in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
where his father became an engineer at the newly formed Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. His mother bought a piano for her children. After two years of lessons, at age 14, Gorney was offered a job as a pianist at a local nickelodeon
Nickelodeon movie theater
The Nickelodeon was a multi-purpose theater that was popular from about 1900 to 1914. Usually situated in converted storefronts, the Nickelodeon featured motion pictures, illustrated songs, slide shows and lectures...
.
He worked his way through the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(Class of 1917), and the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
(Class of 1919), as a pianist. His studies were interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, during which he enlisted in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After graduating, he practiced law only briefly, then turned instead to his love of music, relocating with his wife 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 began his song writing career 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...
. He contributed numerous songs to musicals by the Shubert brothers. Later, Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
introduced him to lyricist Yip Harburg
Yip Harburg
Edgar Yipsel Harburg , known as E.Y. Harburg or Yip Harburg, was an American popular song lyricist who worked with many well-known composers...
, who became a frequent collaborator. The pair's most famous song was "Brother Can You Spare A Dime," based on a lullaby that Gorney learned as a child in Russia. It first appeared in the 1932 Shubert production of New Americana and became the anthem of the Great Depression. The Gorney-Harburg partnership ended when Harburg took up with Gorney's wife, whom he subsequently married.
Gorney's daughter from his second marriage, Karen Lynn Gorney
Karen Lynn Gorney
Karen Lynn Gorney is an American actress, known for her roles on television and film.-Early life:Gorney was born in Beverly Hills, California. She is the daughter of 20th-century composer Jay Gorney, who wrote the music for what many consider the definitive song about America's Great Depression,...
, is an actress and dancer who was in the original cast of All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
and played opposite John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
in Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 drama film directed by John Badham and starring: John Travolta as Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discothèque; Karen Lynn Gorney as his dance partner and eventual friend; and Donna Pescow as Tony's former dance...
.
Gorney's 2005 biography, Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Life of Composer Jay Gorney, was written by his widow Sondra.
External links
- SondraGorney.com - Website of Jay Gorney's widow, Sondra, featuring information on her late husband
- GorneyMusicPublishing.com - Jay Gorney's website created by Sondra Gorney, Daniel Gorney, and Karen Lynn Gorney
- Jay Gorney's scores are housed in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
- Jay Gorney's papers are housed in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts