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James Vincent Monaco (January 13, 1885 – October 16, 1945) was an Italian-born
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
composer of popular music.


Life and career

Monaco was born in Formia, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States when he was six, and he grew up in Albany, New York, where he started playing piano in bars by the age of 18. He relocated to Chicago, where he became known as "Ragtime Jimmie", before moving to New York City in 1910. He played piano at cafes in Manhattan and at
Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
, and wrote his first successful song, "Oh, You Circus Day", which was featured in a Broadway revue, ''Hanky Panky'', in 1911. Further success came the following year with "Row, Row, Row" (lyrics by
William Jerome William Jerome Flannery, September 30, 1865 – June 25, 1932) was an American songwriter, born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York of Irish immigrant parents, Mary Donnellan and Patrick Flannery. He collaborated with numerous well-known composers a ...
) in the '' Ziegfeld Follies of 1912'', and perhaps his best remembered song, " You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" (lyrics by
Joseph McCarthy Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visi ...
), introduced by Al Jolson in 1913 and performed by Judy Garland with revised lyrics as "Dear Mr Gable" in 1937. In 1914, Monaco became a charter member of the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...
. Jimmy Monaco, ''Songwriters Hall of Fame''
Retrieved 13 January 2021
Over the next two decades, Monaco "presented the almost archetypal portrait of a successful Tin Pan Alley writer." Working with a number of lyricists, he wrote several more hits, including " What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?" (1916; lyrics by Joseph McCarthy and Howard Johnson); and " Dirty Hands, Dirty Face" (1923; lyrics by
Grant Clarke Grant Clarke (May 14, 1891, Akron, Ohio – May 16, 1931, California) was an American songwriter. Clarke moved to New York City early in his career, where he worked as an actor and a staff writer for comedians. He began working on Tin Pan Alley, ...
and Edgar Leslie), which was performed in 1927 by Al Jolson in '' The Jazz Singer''. He continued to work with Edgar Leslie, and their 1932 song "Crazy People" was used as the theme song to George Burns and Gracie Allen's radio program. In the mid-1930s, Monaco also led his own dance band. Biography by Steve Huey, ''Allmusic.com''
Retrieved 13 January 2021
He moved to
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
in 1936 to work for Paramount Studios, and formed a songwriting partnership with lyricist Johnny Burke. They wrote successfully for several
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
movies, including the songs "My Heart Is Taking Lessons" (1938, from '' Doctor Rhythm''), "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams" (1938, from '' Sing You Sinners''), and " Only Forever" (1940, from '' Rhythm on the River''). From 1942, Monaco worked with several lyricists, including Mack Gordon; their most successful song was " I Can't Begin to Tell You" from the 1945 film ''
The Dolly Sisters Rosie Dolly (October 24, 1892 – February 1, 1970) and Jenny Dolly (October 24, 1892 – June 1, 1941), known professionally as The Dolly Sisters, were Hungarian-American identical twin dancers, singers and actresses, popular in vaudeville an ...
'', one of four Monaco compositions that were nominated for Oscars. Monaco died from a heart attack in 1945 in
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...
, aged 60.


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 River'' * "We Mustn't Say Goodbye" (lyrics by
Al Dubin Alexander Dubin (June 10, 1891 – February 11, 1945) was an American lyricist. He is best known for his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren. Life Al Dubin came from a Russian Jewish family that emigrated to the United States from Swi ...
) from the 1943 film '' Stage Door Canteen'' *" I'm Making Believe" (lyrics by Mack Gordon) from the 1944 film ''
Sweet and Low-Down ''Sweet and Low-Down'' is a 1944 film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Benny Goodman and Linda Darnell. The film was a fictionalized version of life with Goodman, his band, and their manager while entertaining at military camps. The song "I ...
'' *" I Can't Begin to Tell You" (lyrics by Mack Gordon) from the 1945 film ''
The Dolly Sisters Rosie Dolly (October 24, 1892 – February 1, 1970) and Jenny Dolly (October 24, 1892 – June 1, 1941), known professionally as The Dolly Sisters, were Hungarian-American identical twin dancers, singers and actresses, popular in vaudeville an ...
''. This was a posthumous nomination. Monaco was posthumously 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 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.
.


References


External links

* *
James V. Monaco recordings
at the
Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Monaco, James V. 1885 births 1945 deaths American male composers Italian male composers People from Formia 20th-century American male musicians Italian emigrants to the United States