Larry Shay
Encyclopedia
Larry Shay was an American
songwriter
.
Shay was born in Chicago
, Illinois
. While still young, he studied the piano
at the Bush Conservatory of Music
in Chicago. He eventually moved to New York City
to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923
. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929
he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling
." (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher
; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin.)
In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
hired him to become their music director, and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired Bing Crosby
, who was paid $
50 a day by MGM for his first picture.
He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California
. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz
Society in Ventura, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
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...
.
Shay was born 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...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. While still young, he studied 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...
at the Bush Conservatory of Music
Bush Conservatory of Music
The Bush Conservatory of Music was a conservatory of music established by William L. Bush in 1901. It flourished for the first part of the 1900's and was the first music conservatory to offer dormitories for out-of-state students who wished to study with its illustrious faculty...
in Chicago. He eventually 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...
to become a songwriter. His first composition was "Do You, Don't You, Will You, Won't You," published in 1923
1923 in music
-Events:*November 11 - Premiere of John Foulds's World Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It is repeated on that date each year until 1926....
. In 1925 he joined ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), and remained a member for 63 years. In 1929
1929 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Pianist and composer Abram Chasins makes his professional debut playing his own piano concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra.*January 11 – Karol Szymanowski's Stabat Mater is premiered....
he co-authored his most famous song, "When You're Smiling
When You're Smiling
"When You're Smiling" is a song by Larry Shay, Mark Fisher, and Joe Goodwin , and made famous by Louis Armstrong, who recorded it at least three times, in 1929, 1932, and 1956...
." (As with many other of his songs, this was a collaboration with Joe Goodwin and Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher (songwriter)
Mark Fisher was an American songwriter.He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.He died in Long Lake or Ingleside, Illinois. Many of his compositions were joint ventures with Joe Goodwin and Larry Shay . Another collaborator was Joe Burke.-External references:*...
; see Shay, Fisher, and Goodwin.)
In the 1930s, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
hired him to become their music director, and Shay and his wife Doris moved from New York to Hollywood. In that capacity, he hired 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....
, who was paid $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50 a day by MGM for his first picture.
He published over 300 songs in his life. He died in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. He had a daughter, Dawn Russum, who is now president of the Channel Cities Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
Society in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
.