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Milton Ager (October 6, 1893 – May 6, 1979) was an American composer, regarded as one of the top songwriters of the 1920s and 1930s. His most lasting compositions include "
Ain't She Sweet? "Ain't She Sweet" is a song composed by Milton Ager, with lyrics by Jack Yellen. It was published in 1927 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc. It became popular in the first half of the 20th century and typified the Roaring Twenties. Like ''Happy ...
” and “
Happy Days Are Here Again "Happy Days Are Here Again" is a 1929 song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen. The song is a standard that has been interpreted by various artists. It appeared in the 1930 film '' Chasing Rainbows'' and was the campaign song fo ...
”.


Biography

Ager was born to
Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
couple Fannie Nathan and Simon Ager, who worked as a
livestock Livestock are the Domestication, domesticated animals raised in an agriculture, agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, egg as food, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is som ...
dealer. in
Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
, the sixth of nine children. He taught himself to play the piano, and attended McKinley High School, but left after only three years and embarked on a career in music. Jack Burton, "The Honor Roll of Popular Songwriters: Milton Ager", ''Billboard'', November 18, 1950, p.37
Retrieved 8 January 2021
Milton Ager, ''Songwriters Hall of Fame''
Retrieved 8 January 2021
John Bush, Biography, ''Allmusic.com''
Retrieved 8 January 2021
He worked as a
song plugger A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...
for
music publisher A music publisher is a type of publisher that specializes in distributing music. Music publishers originally published sheet music. When copyright became legally protected, music publishers started to play a role in the management of the intellect ...
s Waterson, Berlin & Snyder in Chicago, and also accompanied touring singer
Gene Greene Eugene Delbert Greene (June 9, 1877 – April 5, 1930) was an American vaudeville and ragtime singer. He was one of the first to use scat singing techniques. Career Greene was born in Indiana. He worked with his wife, Blanche Werner, as Greene ...
and provided accompaniment to
silent movie ''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in the summer of 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and Sid C ...
s. He moved to
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
in 1914, as an
arranger In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestra ...
for the publishing firm, and began composing music in association with
Pete Wendling Pete Wendling (June 6, 1888 – April 7, 1974) was an American composer and pianist, born in New York City to German immigrants. He started his working life as a carpenter, but gained fame during the mid-1910s as a popular music composer, with ...
. After some time in the US Army's Morale Division in Fort Greenleaf,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
, he returned to work in 1918 and wrote his first hit song, "Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia" with lyricist
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, ...
, for
Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed a ...
. He then started working with lyricist
Jack Yellen Jack Selig Yellen (Jacek Jeleń; July 6, 1892 – April 17, 1991) was an American lyricist and screenwriter. He is best remembered for writing the lyrics to the songs "Happy Days Are Here Again", which was used by Franklin Roosevelt as the theme ...
, and they wrote together for the 1920
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
show ''What's in a Name'', featuring the song "A Young Man's Fancy". He continued to have success over the next few years with the songs "I'm Nobody's Baby" (1921, written with
Benny Davis Benny Davis (August 21, 1895 - December 20, 1979) was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. Biography Davis started performing in vaudeville in his teens. He began writing songs when working as an accompanist for Blossom Seeley. In ...
and Lester Santly), and "Who Cares?" (1922, written with Yellen). In 1922, Ager and Yellen co-founded the publishing company of Ager, Yellen and Bornstein. He composed many hit songs over the next decade, many with lyrics by Yellen, including “The Last of the Red Hot Mamas!”, "Lovin' Sam (The Sheik of Alabam')” (1922), “
Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah) "Hard Hearted Hannah, the Vamp of Savannah" is a popular song with words by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, and Charles Bates, and music by Milton Ager. The song was published in June 1924 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc., New York. ''Hard Hearted Hanna ...
” (1924), "
Ain't She Sweet? "Ain't She Sweet" is a song composed by Milton Ager, with lyrics by Jack Yellen. It was published in 1927 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc. It became popular in the first half of the 20th century and typified the Roaring Twenties. Like ''Happy ...
” (1927), and “
Happy Days Are Here Again "Happy Days Are Here Again" is a 1929 song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen. The song is a standard that has been interpreted by various artists. It appeared in the 1930 film '' Chasing Rainbows'' and was the campaign song fo ...
” (1929). In 1930, 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) * Hollywoo ...
, and contributed to such films as '' Chasing Rainbows'' and ''
King of Jazz '' King of Jazz'' is a 1930 American pre-Code color musical film starring Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. The film title refers to Whiteman's popular cultural appellation. At the time the film was made, "jazz", to the general public, meant jazz ...
'' (both 1930). Together with "A Bench in the Park", "Happy Days Are Here Again" was included in the latter film, and was adopted by
Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As th ...
in his 1932 presidential election campaign. After
Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Di ...
bought the firm of Ager, Yellen and Bornstein, Ager continued to write lyrics successfully in Hollywood for several years, his later successes including "Auf Wiedersehen My Dear" (1932) and "Trust in Me" (1937). He effectively retired in the 1940s. Ager was inducted into 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 ...
in 1979. He died in
Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 107,762. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. The ...
, in the same year, aged 85, and was interred in the
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary is a cemetery and mortuary located in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood, with an entrance from Glendon Avenue. The cemetery was ...
in Los Angeles. In 2007, a revue of Ager's music called ''Vampin' Lady'' opened in New Hope, Pennsylvania, performed by singer Joyce Moody under the direction of
Earl Wentz Earl Wentz (March 22, 1938 – November 15, 2009) was an American pianist, composer, and musical director most noted for his creation in 2000 of the American Composer Series, an ongoing performance series in the cabaret format. Early years ...
and transferred to New York City as part of the American Composer Series.


Family

Ager's wife was columnist Cecelia Ager. He was the father of columnist
Shana Alexander Shana Alexander (October 6, 1925 – June 23, 2005) was an American journalist. Although she became the first woman staff writer and columnist for ''Life'' magazine, she was best known for her participation in the "Point-Counterpoint" debate seg ...
. His niece, Joy Eden Harrison, a singer-songwriter with three albums to her credit, claims his work has been influential on her own musical career.


Songs

Among the best known Milton Ager songs are: *"Rockaway Hunt Fox Trot" (1915) *"Erin Is Calling" (1916) *"
Tom, Dick and Harry and Jack (Hurry Back) "Tom, Dick and Harry and Jack (Hurry Back)" is a World War I era song released in 1917. Howard Johnson wrote the lyrics. Milton Ager composed the music. The song was published by Leo Feist, Inc. of New York City. Artist Henry Hutt designed the sh ...
" (1917) *"Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia" (1918), With George W. Meyer *"France We Have Not Forgotten You" (1918) *"Anything is Nice" (1919) *"Freckles" (1919) *"There's a Lot of Blue-Eyed Marys Down in Maryland" (1919) *"A Young Man's Fancy" (1920) *" I'm Nobody's Baby" (1920), his first big hit *"Lovin' Sam" (1920) *"Who Cares?" (1920) *" Stay Away From Louisville Lou" (1923) lso known as "Louisville Lou (That Vampin' Lady)" *"
Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah) "Hard Hearted Hannah, the Vamp of Savannah" is a popular song with words by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, and Charles Bates, and music by Milton Ager. The song was published in June 1924 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc., New York. ''Hard Hearted Hanna ...
" (1924) *"I Wonder What's Become of Sally" (1924) *"Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" (1924) *"I Certainly Could" (1926) *"Hard-To-Get Gertie" (1926) *"Ain't She Sweet" (1927) *"Vo-Do-De-O" (1927) *"I Still Love You" (1928) *"If You Don't Love Me" (1928) *"Oh Baby" (1928) *"Glad Rag Doll" (1928) *"
Happy Days Are Here Again "Happy Days Are Here Again" is a 1929 song with music by Milton Ager and lyrics by Jack Yellen. The song is a standard that has been interpreted by various artists. It appeared in the 1930 film '' Chasing Rainbows'' and was the campaign song fo ...
" (1929) *"I May Be Wrong" (1929) *"Happy Feet" (1930) – a notable version is by Canadian children's entertainer
Fred Penner Frederick Ralph Cornelius Penner (born November 6, 1946) is a Canadian children's entertainer and musician known for the song " The Cat Came Back" and his television series, '' Fred Penner's Place'', which aired on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 19 ...
*"Some Day We'll Meet Again" (1932) *”If I Didn’t Care” (1934) *" Trust in Me" (1937) *"I Keep Coming Back for More" (1938) *"Keep 'em Smiling" (1942) Works for Broadway include: *''What's in a Name?'' (1920) –
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 ...
– composer *''Rain or Shine'' (1928) –
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 ...
– co-composer *''Murray Anderson's Almanac'' (1929) –
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 durin ...
– co-composer


References

* Jaques Cattell Press: ''ASCAP biographical dictionary of composers, authors and publishers''. Fourth edition. R. R. Bowker, New York 1980. * Stanley Sadie, H. Wiley Hitchcock (Ed.): ''The New Grove Dictionary of American Music''. Grove's Dictionaries of Music, New York, N.Y. 1986. * Colin Larkin: ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. Third edition. Macmillan, New York, N.Y. 1998.


External links

*
Milton Ager Collection, 1918-1979
at th
Library of Congress

Milton Ager 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:Ager, Milton 1893 births 1979 deaths American male composers American pop pianists American male pianists Jewish American songwriters Jewish classical musicians Musicians from Chicago Songwriters from Illinois Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American Jews American male songwriters