Kim Gannon
Encyclopedia
James Kimball "Kim" Gannon (November 18, 1900 – April 29, 1974) was an American songwriter, more commonly a lyricist
than a composer
. He was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in New Jersey where he attended Montclair High School and was a member of The Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. He graduated from St. Lawrence University and, intending to become a lawyer
, attended the Albany Law School
, passing the bar examination
in New York State in 1934.
In 1939 he wrote his first song, "For Tonight." His 1942 song, Moonlight Cocktail
, was recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra
and was the best selling record in the United States for 10 weeks. In 1942 he began writing songs for film
s, beginning with the lyrics
of the title song for Always in My Heart. He subsequently contributed songs to other films, including Powers Girl and If Winter Comes. In 1951 he turned to the Broadway stage, joining with composer Walter Kent
to write the score for Seventeen.
He died in Lake Worth, Florida
, at the age of 73.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
than a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in New Jersey where he attended Montclair High School and was a member of The Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. He graduated from St. Lawrence University and, intending to become a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, attended the Albany Law School
Albany Law School
Albany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
, passing the bar examination
Bar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
in New York State in 1934.
In 1939 he wrote his first song, "For Tonight." His 1942 song, Moonlight Cocktail
Moonlight Cocktail
"Moonlight Cocktail" is a big band song popular during World War II. It was composed by Luckey Roberts with lyrics by Kim Gannon. The song was originally recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The song had its first public...
, was recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony...
and was the best selling record in the United States for 10 weeks. In 1942 he began writing songs for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, beginning with the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
of the title song for Always in My Heart. He subsequently contributed songs to other films, including Powers Girl and If Winter Comes. In 1951 he turned to the Broadway stage, joining with composer Walter Kent
Walter Kent
Walter Kent was a Jewish American composer who wrote the music for songs including the Christmas standard "I'll Be Home for Christmas", and the wartime hit " The White Cliffs of Dover", co-written with fellow American Nat Burton. He died at the age of 82-External links:...
to write the score for Seventeen.
He died in Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
, at the age of 73.
Collaborators
Gannon collaborated with a number of writers, including:- J. Fred CootsJ. Fred CootsJohn Frederick Coots was an American songwriter. He wrote over 700 songs.He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history....
- Walter KentWalter KentWalter Kent was a Jewish American composer who wrote the music for songs including the Christmas standard "I'll Be Home for Christmas", and the wartime hit " The White Cliffs of Dover", co-written with fellow American Nat Burton. He died at the age of 82-External links:...
- Josef MyrowJosef MyrowJosef Myrow was a Russian-born composer known for his work in film scores in the 1940s and 50s. He was nominated for an Academy Award twice: in 1947 for the song "You Do" from the film Mother Wore Tights and in 1950 for "Wilhelmina" from the film Wabash Avenue...
- Max SteinerMax SteinerMax Steiner was an Austrian composer of music for theatre productions and films. He later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Trained by the great classical music composers Brahms and Mahler, he was one of the first composers who primarily wrote music for motion pictures, and as...
- Jule StyneJule StyneJule Styne was a British-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which included several very well known and frequently revived shows.-Early life:...
- Mabel WayneMabel WayneMabel Wayne was an American songwriter. She is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where she is credited as being the first woman composer to publish a hit song....
- Luckey RobertsLuckey RobertsCharles Luckeyeth Roberts, better known as Luckey Roberts was an American composer and stride pianist who worked in the jazz, ragtime, and blues styles.-Biography:...
Songs
Among songs which Gannon wrote or co-wrote are the following:- "Angel in DisguiseAngel in Disguise (1940 song)"Angel In Disguise" is a 1940 pop hit from the Warner Bros. movie It All Came True with music by Paul Mann and Stefan Weiß and lyrics by Kim Gannon. It was sung in the movie by Ann Sheridan.The tune became a staple of the Warner Bros...
" - "Autumn Nocturne"
- "Croce di OroCroce di Oro"Croce di Oro" is a popular song, written by James "Kim" Gannon.It was popularized by Patti Page in 1955.The Page recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70713. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on November 12, 1955...
" - "The Gentleman Needs A Shave"
- "Don't Worry"
- "A Dreamer's HolidayA Dreamer's Holiday"A Dreamer's Holiday" is a popular song.The music was written by Mabel Wayne, the lyrics by Kim Gannon. The song was published in 1949.Hit versions of the song were recorded by Perry Como and Buddy Clark....
" - "Easy as Pie"
- "Five O'Clock Whistle"
- "Hey Doc!"
- "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
- "I UnderstandI Understand (1941 song)"I Understand" is a popular song with music by Mabel Wayne and lyrics by Kim Gannon, published in 1941.It has been recorded by Dave Brubeck, Nat "King" Cole, Ray Conniff, Jimmy Dorsey, The Four Aces, and Frank Sinatra....
" - "I Want to Be WantedI Want to Be Wanted"I Want to Be Wanted" is a popular song sung by Brenda Lee that was a number-one song in the United States during the year 1960. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the issue dated October 24, 1960, and remained there for one week. It is an Italian song that was in the original...
", his final hit - "Johnny AppleseedJohnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
" - "Make Love to Me" (not the 1954 song of that title, but an earlier one)
- "Moonlight CocktailMoonlight Cocktail"Moonlight Cocktail" is a big band song popular during World War II. It was composed by Luckey Roberts with lyrics by Kim Gannon. The song was originally recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The song had its first public...
" - "Under Paris Skies"