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Buddy DeSylva

December 08, 2023

George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (January 27, 1895 – July 11, 1950)[1] was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs, and along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, he co-founded Capitol Records.

Buddy DeSylva
Birth nameGeorge Gard DeSylva
Also known asBuddy De Sylva, Buddy DeSylva, Bud De Sylva, Buddy G. DeSylva, B.G. DeSylva
Born(1895-01-27)January 27, 1895
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 11, 1950(1950-07-11) (aged 55)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Songwriter, film producer, record executive
Song written by Buddy DeSylva

Biography edit

DeSylva was born in New York City,[1] but grew up in California,[1] and attended the University of Southern California, where he joined the Theta Xi Fraternity.

His Portuguese-born father, Aloysius J. De Sylva, was better known to American audiences as actor Hal De Forrest.[2] His father was also a lawyer as well as an actor.[3] His mother, Georgetta Miles Gard, was the daughter of Los Angeles police chief George E. Gard.

DeSylva's first successful songs were those used by Al Jolson on Broadway in the 1918 production of Sinbad, which included "I'll Say She Does". Soon thereafter, he met Jolson and in 1918 the pair went to New York and DeSylva began working as a songwriter in Tin Pan Alley.[1]

In the early 1920s, DeSylva frequently worked with composer George Gershwin.[4] Together, they created the experimental one-act jazz opera Blue Monday set in Harlem, which is widely regarded as a forerunner to Porgy and Bess ten years later.[citation needed]

In April 1924, DeSylva married Marie Wallace, a Ziegfeld Follies dancer.[citation needed]

In 1925, DeSylva became one third of the songwriting team with lyricist Lew Brown and composer Ray Henderson, one of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the era.[5] The team was responsible for the song "Magnolia" (1927) which was popularized by Lou Gold's orchestra.[6] The writing and publishing partnership continued until 1930, producing a string of hits and the perennial Broadway favorite Good News.[7]

DeSylva joined ASCAP in 1920 and served on the ASCAP board of directors between 1922 and 1930. He became a producer of stage and screen musicals.[1] DeSylva relocated to Hollywood and was contracted to Fox Studios.[1]

During this tenure, he produced movies such as The Little Colonel, The Littlest Rebel, Captain January, Poor Little Rich Girl and Stowaway.[1] In 1941, he became the Executive Producer at Paramount Pictures, a position he would hold until 1944. At Paramount, he was also an uncredited executive producer for Double Indemnity, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Story of Dr. Wassell and The Glass Key. Betty Hutton always credited DeSylva for bringing her to Hollywood and launching her film career.[8]

The Paramount all-star extravaganza Star Spangled Rhythm, which takes place at the Paramount film studio in Hollywood, features a fictional movie executive named "B.G. DeSoto" (played by Walter Abel) who is a parody of DeSylva.

In 1942, Johnny Mercer, Glenn Wallichs and DeSylva together founded Capitol Records.[1] He also founded the Cowboy label.

He is sometimes credited as: Buddy De Sylva, Buddy DeSylva, Bud De Sylva, Buddy G. DeSylva and B.G. DeSylva.

Buddy DeSylva died in Hollywood, aged 55, and is buried at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Individual songs edit

  • Desylva, Buddy, B. G. De Sylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson. Seven Veils. 26 March 1927[9]
  • Desylva, Buddy, B. G. De Sylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson. Good News: vocal selection. [Place of publication not identified]: Chappell, n.d. OCLC 495863850
  • Henderson, Ray, B. G. De Sylva, and Bud Green. "Alabamy Bound". New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co, 1925. OCLC 645628000
  • De Sylva, B. G., Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson. "Magnolia". 1927. OCLC 918927178
  • "Avalon"
  • "April Showers"
  • "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
  • "The Birth of the Blues"
  • "Button Up Your Overcoat"
  • "California, Here I Come"
  • "If You Knew Susie"
  • "It All Depends on You"
  • "Look for the Silver Lining"
  • "Somebody Loves Me"
  • "Sonny Boy"
  • "The Varsity Drag"
  • "You're the Cream in My Coffee"

Broadway credits edit

Selected filmography edit

In popular culture edit

The 1956 Hollywood film The Best Things in Life Are Free, starring Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey, and Ernest Borgnine, depicted the De Sylva, Brown and Henderson collaboration.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 655/6. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  3. ^ Tin Pan Alley p. 107
  4. ^ Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: a History of America's Great Lyricists. Oxford University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0195064089.
  5. ^ Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: a History of America's Great Lyricists. Oxford University Press. p. 87. ISBN 0195064089.
  6. ^ Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of Song. Routledge. p. 109. ISBN 0415938775.
  7. ^ Furia, Philip (1990). The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: a History of America's Great Lyricists. Oxford University Press. p. 94. ISBN 0195064089.
  8. ^ Kendall, Mary Claire. "Betty Hutton's Miraculous Recovery". Forbes.com.
  9. ^ "Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series". 23 August 1954. p. 67. Retrieved 23 August 2021 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Jasen, David A. (2003). Tin Pan Alley An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of Song. Routledge. p. 110. ISBN 0415938775.

Further reading edit

  • Ewen, David (1970). Great Men of American Popular Song ASIN: B000OKLHXU
  • Green, Stanley (1984). The World Of Musical Comedy. Publisher: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80207-4

External links edit

December 08, 2023
buddy, desylva, george, gard, buddy, desylva, january, 1895, july, 1950, american, songwriter, film, producer, record, executive, wrote, wrote, many, popular, songs, along, with, johnny, mercer, glenn, wallichs, founded, capitol, records, birth, namegeorge, ga. George Gard Buddy DeSylva January 27 1895 July 11 1950 1 was an American songwriter film producer and record executive He wrote or co wrote many popular songs and along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs he co founded Capitol Records Buddy DeSylvaBirth nameGeorge Gard DeSylvaAlso known asBuddy De Sylva Buddy DeSylva Bud De Sylva Buddy G DeSylva B G DeSylvaBorn 1895 01 27 January 27 1895New York City U S DiedJuly 11 1950 1950 07 11 aged 55 Los Angeles California U S Occupation s Songwriter film producer record executive Song written by Buddy DeSylva Contents 1 Biography 2 Individual songs 3 Broadway credits 4 Selected filmography 5 In popular culture 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksBiography editDeSylva was born in New York City 1 but grew up in California 1 and attended the University of Southern California where he joined the Theta Xi Fraternity His Portuguese born father Aloysius J De Sylva was better known to American audiences as actor Hal De Forrest 2 His father was also a lawyer as well as an actor 3 His mother Georgetta Miles Gard was the daughter of Los Angeles police chief George E Gard DeSylva s first successful songs were those used by Al Jolson on Broadway in the 1918 production of Sinbad which included I ll Say She Does Soon thereafter he met Jolson and in 1918 the pair went to New York and DeSylva began working as a songwriter in Tin Pan Alley 1 In the early 1920s DeSylva frequently worked with composer George Gershwin 4 Together they created the experimental one act jazz opera Blue Monday set in Harlem which is widely regarded as a forerunner to Porgy and Bess ten years later citation needed In April 1924 DeSylva married Marie Wallace a Ziegfeld Follies dancer citation needed In 1925 DeSylva became one third of the songwriting team with lyricist Lew Brown and composer Ray Henderson one of the top Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the era 5 The team was responsible for the song Magnolia 1927 which was popularized by Lou Gold s orchestra 6 The writing and publishing partnership continued until 1930 producing a string of hits and the perennial Broadway favorite Good News 7 DeSylva joined ASCAP in 1920 and served on the ASCAP board of directors between 1922 and 1930 He became a producer of stage and screen musicals 1 DeSylva relocated to Hollywood and was contracted to Fox Studios 1 During this tenure he produced movies such as The Little Colonel The Littlest Rebel Captain January Poor Little Rich Girl and Stowaway 1 In 1941 he became the Executive Producer at Paramount Pictures a position he would hold until 1944 At Paramount he was also an uncredited executive producer for Double Indemnity For Whom the Bell Tolls The Story of Dr Wassell and The Glass Key Betty Hutton always credited DeSylva for bringing her to Hollywood and launching her film career 8 The Paramount all star extravaganza Star Spangled Rhythm which takes place at the Paramount film studio in Hollywood features a fictional movie executive named B G DeSoto played by Walter Abel who is a parody of DeSylva In 1942 Johnny Mercer Glenn Wallichs and DeSylva together founded Capitol Records 1 He also founded the Cowboy label He is sometimes credited as Buddy De Sylva Buddy DeSylva Bud De Sylva Buddy G DeSylva and B G DeSylva Buddy DeSylva died in Hollywood aged 55 and is buried at Glendale s Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery Individual songs editDesylva Buddy B G De Sylva Lew Brown and Ray Henderson Seven Veils 26 March 1927 9 Desylva Buddy B G De Sylva Lew Brown and Ray Henderson Good News vocal selection Place of publication not identified Chappell n d OCLC 495863850 Henderson Ray B G De Sylva and Bud Green Alabamy Bound New York Shapiro Bernstein amp Co 1925 OCLC 645628000 De Sylva B G Lew Brown and Ray Henderson Magnolia 1927 OCLC 918927178 Avalon April Showers The Best Things in Life Are Free The Birth of the Blues Button Up Your Overcoat California Here I Come If You Knew Susie It All Depends on You Look for the Silver Lining Somebody Loves Me Sonny Boy The Varsity Drag You re the Cream in My Coffee Broadway credits edit1919 La La Lucille music by George Gershwin 1922 George White s Scandals of 1922 music by George Gershwin and included premiere of one act jazz opera Blue Monday 1922 Orange Blossoms music by Victor Herbert 1922 The Yankee Princess music by Emmerich Kalman 1923 George White s Scandals of 1923 music by George Gershwin 1924 Sweet Little Devil music by George Gershwin 1924 George White s Scandals of 1924 music by George Gershwin 1925 Big Boy music by Joseph Meyer and James F Hanley 1925 Tell Me More co lyricist with Ira Gershwin music by George Gershwin 1925 George White s Scandals of 1925 DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1925 Captain Jinks music by Lewis Gensler 1926 George White s Scandals of 1926 DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1926 Queen High music by Lewis Gensler 1927 Good News DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1927 Manhattan Mary DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1928 George White s Scandals of 1928 DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1928 Hold Everything DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1929 Follow Thru DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1930 Flying High DeSylva Brown and Henderson 1932 Take a Chance music by Nacio Herb Brown Richard A Whiting and Vincent Youmans Selected filmography editStepping Sisters 1932 My Weakness 1933 The Stork Club 1945 In popular culture editThe 1956 Hollywood film The Best Things in Life Are Free starring Gordon MacRae Dan Dailey and Ernest Borgnine depicted the De Sylva Brown and Henderson collaboration 10 References edit a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing pp 655 6 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Composers Lyricists Database Biography Buddy DeSylva Archived from the original on 2008 02 28 Retrieved 2008 01 10 Tin Pan Alley p 107 Furia Philip 1990 The Poets of Tin Pan Alley a History of America s Great Lyricists Oxford University Press p 88 ISBN 0195064089 Furia Philip 1990 The Poets of Tin Pan Alley a History of America s Great Lyricists Oxford University Press p 87 ISBN 0195064089 Jasen David A 2003 Tin Pan Alley An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of Song Routledge p 109 ISBN 0415938775 Furia Philip 1990 The Poets of Tin Pan Alley a History of America s Great Lyricists Oxford University Press p 94 ISBN 0195064089 Kendall Mary Claire Betty Hutton s Miraculous Recovery Forbes com Catalog of Copyright Entries Third series 23 August 1954 p 67 Retrieved 23 August 2021 via Google Books Jasen David A 2003 Tin Pan Alley An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of Song Routledge p 110 ISBN 0415938775 Further reading edit nbsp Biography portalEwen David 1970 Great Men of American Popular Song ASIN B000OKLHXU Green Stanley 1984 The World Of Musical Comedy Publisher Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 80207 4External links editBuddy DeSylva at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Quotations from Wikiquote nbsp Texts from Wikisource Buddy DeSylva at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Buddy G DeSylva at IMDb Buddy DeSylva and the 1909 Copyright Act Buddy DeSylva at the Internet Archive Buddy De Sylva recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buddy DeSylva amp oldid 1182746484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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