Mack Gordon
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Mack Gordon (born Morris Gittler; June 21, 1904 – February 28, 1959) was an American
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...
and
lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income ...
for
the stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. It was founded in 1880. It contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at those wh ...
and
film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
. He was nominated for the best original song
Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...
nine times in 11 years, including five consecutive years between 1940 and 1944, and won the award once, for "
You'll Never Know "You'll Never Know", sometimes referred to as "''You'll Never Know (Just How Much I Love You)''" in later years, is a popular song with music written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song is based on a poem written by a young ...
". That song has proved among his most enduring, and remains popular in films and television commercials to this day. "
At Last "At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film '' Sun Valley Serenade'' (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US ''Billboard'' po ...
" is another of his best-known songs.


Biography

Gordon was born in
Grodno Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish b ...
, then part of the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
. He emigrated with his mother and older brother to New York City in May 1907; the ship they sailed on was the S/S ''Bremen''; their destination was to his father in
Guttenberg, New Jersey Guttenberg ( ) is a town in the northern part of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. In the 2010 Census, it was the most densely populated incorporated municipality in the United States, as well as one of the most densely populated mun ...
. Gordon appeared in
vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
as an actor and singer in the late 1920s and early 1930s, but his songwriting talents were always paramount. He formed a partnership with English
pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...
Harry Revel Harry Revel ( Glaser; 21 December 1905 – 3 November 1958) was a British-born American composer, mostly of musical theatre, working with various lyricists, notably Mack Gordon. He is also seen as a pioneer of " space age pop". Early life and c ...
, that lasted throughout the 1930s. In the 1940s he worked with a string of other composers including Harry Warren. The
Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...
states that Gordon's songs have been used in the soundtrack of over 100 films, Gordon writing specifically for at least 50 of them. His catalogue includes more than 120 songs sung by some of the world's most famous and talented performers such as
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
,
Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...
,
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
,
Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
, Etta James,
Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...
,
Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
,
Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "The Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Op ...
,
Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
and many more. His close friendship with many of his artists (such as
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...
and the Rat Pack) and his ability to write lyrics that were timeless, allowed him to become one of the most famous members of the world of music and a legendary lyricist. His exhibit in the
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
says he was "arguably one of the most successful lyricists to write for the screen". Gordon died in 1959. He is entombed in the Corridor of Immortality at Home of Peace Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.


Selected songs

*"A Lady Loves" *"A Star Fell Out of Heaven" *"A Tree Was a Tree" *"All About Love" *"An Old Straw Hat" *"An Orchid to You" *"
At Last "At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film '' Sun Valley Serenade'' (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US ''Billboard'' po ...
" *"Baby, Won't You Say You Love Me" *"
Chattanooga Choo-Choo "Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and composed by Harry Warren. It was originally recorded as a big band/swing tune by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra and featured in the 1941 movie '' Sun Valley Serenade''. It was t ...
" – nominee for 1941
Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...
*"Cigarettes, Cigars" *"Danger, Love at Work" *"
Did You Ever See a Dream Walking? "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?" is a popular song, introduced by Art Jarrett in the 1933 film '' Sitting Pretty.'' The music was written by Harry Revel, the lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song was originally published in 1933 and there were charte ...
" *"Doin' the Uptown Lowdown" *"Down Argentine Way" – nominee for 1940 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"From the Top of Your Head to the Tip of Your Toes" *" Goodnight My Love" *"Help Yourself to Happiness" *" I Can't Begin to Tell You" – nominee for 1946 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"I Feel Like a Feather in the Breeze" *" I Had the Craziest Dream" *"I Played Fiddle for the Czar" *"
I'm Making Believe "I'm Making Believe" is a 1944 song composed by James V. Monaco with lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song first appeared in the film ''Sweet and Low-Down''; the performance by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra was nominated for the Academy Award for Be ...
" – nominee for 1944 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"I've Got a Date With a Dream" *" I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo" – nominee for 1942 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"If You Feel Like Singing, Sing" *"In Old Chicago" *"
It Happened In Sun Valley "It Happened in Sun Valley" is a 1941 song composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It was recorded and featured by Glenn Miller and his orchestra in the movie '' Sun Valley Serenade''. Background Glenn Miller and His Orchestra relea ...
" *"It Happens Every Spring" *"It Was a Night in June" *"It's Swell of You" *"Listen to the German Band" *"Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie" *"Love Thy Neighbor" *"
Mam'selle "Mam'selle" is a bittersweet song about a ''rendez-vous'' with a "mam'selle" ('' mademoiselle'') in a small café. The music was written by Edmund Goulding, the lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song originally appeared in the movie, ''The Razor's Edge' ...
" *"May I?" *"My Heart is an Open Book" *"
My Heart Tells Me "My Heart Tells Me" is a song written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It is the theme to the 1943 American musical film '' Sweet Rosie O'Grady'', in which it is sung by lead actress Betty Grable. A 1940s standard, the song has been reco ...
" *" Never in a Million Years" *"On the Boardwalk at Atlantic City" *"Once in a Blue Moon" *"Once Too Often" *"
Paris in the Spring "Paris in the Spring" is a popular song composed in 1935, with lyrics by Mack Gordon and music by Harry Revel. It was first introduced by Mary Ellis in the film ''Paris in Spring''. A version was also recorded by Ray Noble and His Orchestra (al ...
" *" Serenade in Blue" *"She Reminds Me of You" *"Somebody Soon" *"Somewhere in the Night" *"Stay As Sweet As You Are" *"Sunny Southern Smile" *"Takes Two to Make a Bargain" *"Thanks for Everything" *"
The More I See You "The More I See You" is a popular song composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song was first published in 1945. Other recordings "The More I See You" has been subsequently recorded by many artists, notably by: * Bing Crosby ...
" *"
There Will Never Be Another You "There Will Never Be Another You" is a popular song with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Mack Gordon that was written for the Twentieth Century Fox musical ''Iceland'' (1942) starring Sonja Henie and John Payne. The songs in the film featur ...
" *"There's a Lull in My Life" *"Through a Long and Sleepless Night" – nominee for 1949 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"Time on My Hands" *"Underneath the Harlem Moon" *"What Did I Do" *"When I'm With You" *"Wilhelmina" – nominee for 1950 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"Without a Word of Warning" *" With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming" *"You Do" – nominee for 1947 Academy Award for Best Original Song *"
You Make Me Feel So Young "You Make Me Feel So Young" is a 1946 popular music, popular song composed by Josef Myrow, with lyrics written by Mack Gordon. It was introduced in the 1946 musical film ''Three Little Girls in Blue'', where it was sung by the characters performed ...
" *"You Say the Sweetest Things Baby" *"
You'll Never Know "You'll Never Know", sometimes referred to as "''You'll Never Know (Just How Much I Love You)''" in later years, is a popular song with music written by Harry Warren and the lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song is based on a poem written by a young ...
" – winner for 1943
Academy Award for Best Original Song The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed th ...
, from ''
Hello, Frisco, Hello ''Hello, Frisco, Hello'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari, and Jack Oakie. The film was made in Technicolor and released by 20th Century-Fox. This was one of the last ...
''


Original works for Broadway

*''Fast and Furious'' (1931) –
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 popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...
– primary
lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income ...
*''
Smiling Faces ''Smiling Faces'' is an American musical with music by Harry Revel, lyrics by Mack Gordon, and a musical book by Harry Clarke. Produced by Lee Shubert and Jacob J. Shubert, the production opened on Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre ...
'' (1932) –
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income ...
*''Strike Me Pink'' (1933) –
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 popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...
– contributing
dialogue Dialogue (sometimes spelled dialog in American English) is a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people, and a literary and theatrical form that depicts such an exchange. As a philosophical or didactic device, it is c ...
-writer


References


External links

* *
Mack Gordon
in the
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
*
Mack Gordon 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:Gordon, Mack 1904 births 1959 deaths Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters Jewish American songwriters Vaudeville performers Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States 20th-century American musicians Jews from the Russian Empire Burials at Home of Peace Cemetery Glenn Miller Orchestra members 20th-century American Jews