David William Heneker (31 March 1906 – 30 January 2001) was a writer and composer of British popular music and musicals, best known for creating the music and lyrics for Half a Sixpence.[1]
Heneker was born in Southsea, England, in March 1906, the eldest son of the Canadian-born Lieutenant ColonelWilliam Heneker, a notable military strategist and tactician, who would later serve with distinction in World War I, rising to the rank of General.
Educated at Wellington and Sandhurst, Heneker followed his father into a military career. He served as a cavalry officer in the British Army from 1925 to 1937, and again in the War Office from 1939 to 1948, attaining the rank of Brigadier.
He became drawn to a second career in music after becoming familiar with the score of Noël Coward's Bitter Sweet while recuperating from a riding accident in 1934. His first published song was performed by Merle Oberon in the film The Broken Melody. Among his compositions was the Gracie Fields wartime hit "The Thing-Ummy Bob". After resigning his commission in 1948, he became a lounge singer at the Embassy Club, while continuing his songwriting.
In 1958, the writer Wolf Mankowitz invited Heneker to work with him and Monty Norman on the score of Expresso Bongo, and, from that point on, Heneker turned his talents to the musical theatre, producing a series of West End hit shows. The same year, he contributed the English lyrics to the 1956 Marguerite Monnot French musical Irma La Douce. The show transferred to Broadway two years later and was nominated for a Tony Award. After collaborating again with Norman on Make Me An Offer in 1959, Heneker saw his greatest West End triumphs with the full score to the Tommy Steele vehicle Half a Sixpence (1963) and a collaboration with John Taylor on Charlie Girl (1965). Half a Sixpence gave him his second Broadway success, this time earning two Tony Award nominations, for Best Musical and Best Original Score, while Charlie Girl enjoyed a five-year West End run. He was the first British writer to have two shows on Broadway which ran for more than 500 performances. Jorrocks (1966) and Popkiss (1972) were less successful, but he returned to form in his mid-seventies with The Biograph Girl in 1980, collaborating on this occasion with Warner Brown. His final musical, 1984's Peg, a musical version of the 1913 comedy Peg O' My Heart, was less successful.
david, heneker, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2016, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources David Heneker news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message David William Heneker 31 March 1906 30 January 2001 was a writer and composer of British popular music and musicals best known for creating the music and lyrics for Half a Sixpence 1 David HenekerBornDavid William Heneker 1906 03 31 31 March 1906Southsea Hampshire EnglandDied30 January 2001 2001 01 30 aged 94 Bridell Ceredigion WalesOccupation s Composer lyricistYears active1934 1984Spouse s Ellen Hope 1929 34 divorced Gwenol Satow 1939 97 her death FamilySir William Heneker father Contents 1 Life and career 2 West End theatrical credits 3 Work on Broadway 4 Sources 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditHeneker was born in Southsea England in March 1906 the eldest son of the Canadian born Lieutenant Colonel William Heneker a notable military strategist and tactician who would later serve with distinction in World War I rising to the rank of General Educated at Wellington and Sandhurst Heneker followed his father into a military career He served as a cavalry officer in the British Army from 1925 to 1937 and again in the War Office from 1939 to 1948 attaining the rank of Brigadier He became drawn to a second career in music after becoming familiar with the score of Noel Coward s Bitter Sweet while recuperating from a riding accident in 1934 His first published song was performed by Merle Oberon in the film The Broken Melody Among his compositions was the Gracie Fields wartime hit The Thing Ummy Bob After resigning his commission in 1948 he became a lounge singer at the Embassy Club while continuing his songwriting In 1958 the writer Wolf Mankowitz invited Heneker to work with him and Monty Norman on the score of Expresso Bongo and from that point on Heneker turned his talents to the musical theatre producing a series of West End hit shows The same year he contributed the English lyrics to the 1956 Marguerite Monnot French musical Irma La Douce The show transferred to Broadway two years later and was nominated for a Tony Award After collaborating again with Norman on Make Me An Offer in 1959 Heneker saw his greatest West End triumphs with the full score to the Tommy Steele vehicle Half a Sixpence 1963 and a collaboration with John Taylor on Charlie Girl 1965 Half a Sixpence gave him his second Broadway success this time earning two Tony Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Original Score while Charlie Girl enjoyed a five year West End run He was the first British writer to have two shows on Broadway which ran for more than 500 performances Jorrocks 1966 and Popkiss 1972 were less successful but he returned to form in his mid seventies with The Biograph Girl in 1980 collaborating on this occasion with Warner Brown His final musical 1984 s Peg a musical version of the 1913 comedy Peg O My Heart was less successful West End theatrical credits EditExpresso Bongo 1958 composer lyricist jointly with Monty Norman Irma La Douce 1958 lyricist Make Me an Offer 1959 composer lyricist jointly with Monty Norman The Art of Living 1960 composer lyricist jointly with Monty Norman Half a Sixpence 1963 composer lyricist Charlie Girl 1965 composer lyricist jointly with John Taylor Jorrocks 1966 composer lyricist Phil the Fluter 1969 composer lyricist Popkiss 1972 composer lyricist The Biograph Girl 1980 composer lyricist jointly with Warner Brown Peg 1984 composer lyricistWork on Broadway EditIrma La Douce 1960 Tony nomination for Best Musical 1961 Half a Sixpence 1965 Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Original Score 1965Sources EditWho s Who in Musicals Obituary The Independent dead link Obituary Daily TelegraphReferences Edit Shorter Eric 31 January 2001 David Heneker The Guardian External links EditDavid Heneker at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Heneker amp oldid 1150028539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
