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Walter Donaldson

December 07, 2023

This article is about the American songwriter. For the snooker player, see Walter Donaldson (snooker player).

Walter Donaldson (February 15, 1893 – July 15, 1947)[1] was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder, composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s, that have become standards and form part of the Great American Songbook.

Walter Donaldson
Background information
Born(1893-02-15)February 15, 1893
Brooklyn, New York, United States
DiedJuly 15, 1947(1947-07-15) (aged 54)
Santa Monica, California, United States
Occupation(s)Composer
Lyricist
Publishing company entrepreneur
WebsiteWalterdonaldson.net

History edit

Walter Donaldson was born in Brooklyn, New York State, United States, the son of a piano teacher.[1] While still in school he wrote original music for school productions,[1] and had his first professional songs published in 1915. In 1918, he had his first major hit with "The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady".[1]

During World War I, Donaldson entertained troops at Camp Upton, New York. His time there inspired him to write "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?"[2]

After serving in the United States Army in World War I, Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company.[3] He stayed with Berlin until 1928, producing many hit songs, then in 1928 established his own publishing company.[4] Although Walter Donaldson's company was officially known as "Donaldson, Douglas & Gumble, Inc.," it was printed in fine print alongside Walter Donaldson's name in every publication.

Donaldson frequently worked with lyricist Gus Kahn, after first working together in 1915.[5][4]

Donaldson is primarily known as a composer, rather than as a lyricist, although he wrote words and music for dozens of songs.[1] Among the big hits for which he wrote both words and music were "At Sundown" and "Little White Lies".[1] In his prolific career, he published some 600 original songs.[6]

At the end of the 1920s, Donaldson moved to Hollywood, California, and worked composing and arranging music for motion pictures.[1][4] His film credits include work on such pictures as Glorifying the American Girl, Suzy, The Great Ziegfeld, Panama Hattie, Follow the Boys and What's Buzzin', Cousin?. He married Dorothy in 1935, who was on the New York stage as Wanda Mansfield, but they divorced in 1942 after having two children.

Walter Donaldson retired in 1943,[3] and died four years later in Santa Monica, California,[3][4] after being ill for a year with kidney problems. He is buried at an unmarked grave at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Selected works edit

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. 716/7. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ Holsinger, M. Paul, "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?" (Song), War and American Popular Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Edited by M Paul Holsinger, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999, ISBN 0313299080, p. 207
  3. ^ a b c d "Walter Donaldson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Rust, Brian (1975). Makin' Whoopee: The Music of Walter Donaldson (Sleeve notes). EMI. SH 229.
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century (First ed.). Routledge. February 1, 1999. p. 336. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "ACE Repertory". Ascap.com.

Bibliography edit

  • Holsinger, M. Paul, "How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?" (Song) in War and American Popular Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Edited by M Paul Holsinger, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999. ISBN 0313299080

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walter Donaldson.

December 07, 2023
walter, donaldson, this, article, about, american, songwriter, snooker, player, snooker, player, february, 1893, july, 1947, american, prolific, popular, songwriter, publishing, company, founder, composing, many, songs, 1910s, 1940s, that, have, become, standa. This article is about the American songwriter For the snooker player see Walter Donaldson snooker player Walter Donaldson February 15 1893 July 15 1947 1 was an American prolific popular songwriter and publishing company founder composing many hit songs of the 1910s to 1940s that have become standards and form part of the Great American Songbook Walter DonaldsonBackground informationBorn 1893 02 15 February 15 1893Brooklyn New York United StatesDiedJuly 15 1947 1947 07 15 aged 54 Santa Monica California United StatesOccupation s ComposerLyricistPublishing company entrepreneurWebsiteWalterdonaldson net Contents 1 History 2 Selected works 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editWalter Donaldson was born in Brooklyn New York State United States the son of a piano teacher 1 While still in school he wrote original music for school productions 1 and had his first professional songs published in 1915 In 1918 he had his first major hit with The Daughter of Rosie O Grady 1 During World War I Donaldson entertained troops at Camp Upton New York His time there inspired him to write How Ya Gonna Keep em Down on the Farm After They ve Seen Paree 2 After serving in the United States Army in World War I Donaldson was hired as a songwriter by Irving Berlin Music Company 3 He stayed with Berlin until 1928 producing many hit songs then in 1928 established his own publishing company 4 Although Walter Donaldson s company was officially known as Donaldson Douglas amp Gumble Inc it was printed in fine print alongside Walter Donaldson s name in every publication Donaldson frequently worked with lyricist Gus Kahn after first working together in 1915 5 4 Donaldson is primarily known as a composer rather than as a lyricist although he wrote words and music for dozens of songs 1 Among the big hits for which he wrote both words and music were At Sundown and Little White Lies 1 In his prolific career he published some 600 original songs 6 At the end of the 1920s Donaldson moved to Hollywood California and worked composing and arranging music for motion pictures 1 4 His film credits include work on such pictures as Glorifying the American Girl Suzy The Great Ziegfeld Panama Hattie Follow the Boys and What s Buzzin Cousin He married Dorothy in 1935 who was on the New York stage as Wanda Mansfield but they divorced in 1942 after having two children Walter Donaldson retired in 1943 3 and died four years later in Santa Monica California 3 4 after being ill for a year with kidney problems He is buried at an unmarked grave at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn Selected works edit At Sundown When Love is Calling Me Home The Army s Full of Irish A Man from Erin Never Runs He s Irish lyrics by Bert Hanlon Away Down East in Maine Because My Baby Don t Mean Maybe Now Carolina in the Morning lyrics by Gus Kahn Can t We Fall in Love lyrics by Harold Adamson Did I Remember lyrics by Harold Adamson Dixie Vagabond lyrics by Gus Kahn Don t Be Angry Don t Cry Frenchy Don t Cry lyrics by Sam M Lewis and Joe Young Down Where the South Begins lyrics by Gus Kahn Dreamy Delaware music by Violinsky Sol Ginsberg Duke of Kak I Ak lyrics by Edgar Leslie Eight Little Letters An Ev ning in Caroline For No Reason at All lyrics by Sam M Lewis and Joe Young Georgia A Girlfriend of a Boyfriend of Mine lyrics by Gus Kahn Give Me Just a Little Bit of What You ve Got lyrics by George A Whiting Give Me My Mammy lyrics by Buddy DeSylva Goodness Gracious Agnes lyrics by Gus Kahn How Ya Gonna Keep em Down on the Farm After They ve Seen Paree lyrics by Sam M Lewis and Joe Young Kansas City Kitty lyrics by Edgar Leslie Little White Lies Love Me or Leave Me lyrics by Gus Kahn Makin Whoopee lyrics by Gus Kahn Maybe It s the Moon lyrics by Robert Wright and Chet Forrest Mississippi Honeymoon lyrics by Gus Kahn Mister Meadowlark lyrics by Johnny Mercer My Baby Just Cares for Me lyrics by Gus Kahn My Blue Heaven lyrics by George A Whiting My Buddy lyrics by Gus Kahn My Heart and I Decided My Little Bimbo Down on a Bamboo Isle lyrics by Grant Clarke My Mammy lyrics by Sam M Lewis and Joe Young a huge hit for Al Jolson My Man from Caroline lyrics by Gus Kahn My Mom My Ohio Home lyrics by Gus Kahn My Papa Doesn t Two Time No Time No One to Blame But Myself lyrics by Mitchell Parish Out of the Dawn Sam the Old Accordion Man Sweet Jennie Lee That Certain Party lyrics by Gus Kahn A Thousand Goodnights What Can I Say After I Say I m Sorry lyrics by Abe Lyman Why d Ya Make Me Fall In Love Without That Gal Yes Sir That s My Baby lyrics by Gus Kahn You re Driving Me Crazy 1 3 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 716 7 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Holsinger M Paul How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm Song War and American Popular Culture A Historical Encyclopedia Edited by M Paul Holsinger Westport CT Greenwood Press 1999 ISBN 0313299080 p 207 a b c d Walter Donaldson Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved August 24 2021 a b c d Rust Brian 1975 Makin Whoopee The Music of Walter Donaldson Sleeve notes EMI SH 229 Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century First ed Routledge February 1 1999 p 336 Retrieved November 26 2018 ACE Repertory Ascap com Bibliography editHolsinger M Paul How Ya Gonna Keep Em Down on the Farm Song in War and American Popular Culture A Historical Encyclopedia Edited by M Paul Holsinger Westport CT Greenwood Press 1999 ISBN 0313299080External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walter Donaldson Walter Donaldson s Official Website Walter Donaldson recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Walter Donaldson 1893 1947 Find A Grave find a grave site for Walter Donaldson Sheet music for How Ya Gonna Keep em Down on the Farm After They ve Seen Paree Waterson Berlin amp Snyder Co 1919 Walter Donaldson at IMDb Walter Donaldson at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Sheet music and MP3 for The Army s Full of Irish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Walter Donaldson amp oldid 1187002000, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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