Al Stillman
Encyclopedia
Al Stillman was an American
lyricist
.
. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family
. He was Jewish. He attended New York University
. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P. Adams' newspaper
column, and in 1933 became a staff writer at Radio City Music Hall
, a position he held for almost 40 years.
Stillman collaborated with a number of composers: Fred Ahlert, Robert Allen, Percy Faith
, George Gershwin
, Ernesto Lecuona
, Paul McGrane, Kay Swift
, and Arthur Schwartz
. Many of his collaborations with Allen were major hits in the 1950s for The Four Lads
; the Stillman/Allen team also wrote hit songs for Perry Como
and Johnny Mathis
.
Stillman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
in 1982.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lyricist
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
.
Biography
Stillman was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family
James Stillman
James Jewett Stillman was an American businessman who invested in land, banking, and railroads in New York, Texas, and Mexico.-Biography:...
. He was Jewish. He attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P. Adams' newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
column, and in 1933 became a staff writer at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
, a position he held for almost 40 years.
Stillman collaborated with a number of composers: Fred Ahlert, Robert Allen, Percy Faith
Percy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Ernesto Lecuona
Ernesto Lecuona
Ernesto Lecuona y Casado was a Cuban composer and pianist of Canarian father and Cuban mother, and worldwide fame. He composed over six hundred pieces, mostly in the Cuban vein, and was a pianist of exceptional quality....
, Paul McGrane, Kay Swift
Kay Swift
Kay Swift was an American composer of popular and classical music, the first woman to score a complete musical. Written in 1930, Fine and Dandy includes some of her best known songs; the title song has become a jazz standard. "Can't We Be Friends?" was another important hit...
, and Arthur Schwartz
Arthur Schwartz
Arthur Schwartz was an American composer and film producer.Schwartz supported his legal studies at New York University and postgraduate studies at Columbia University by playing piano before concentrating his talents on vaudeville, Broadway theatre and Hollywood.Among his Broadway musicals are The...
. Many of his collaborations with Allen were major hits in the 1950s for The Four Lads
The Four Lads
The Four Lads is a popular Canadian male singing quartet. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the group earned many gold singles and albums. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Moments to Remember," "Standin' on the Corner," "No, Not Much," "Who Needs You," and "Istanbul."The Four Lads makes...
; the Stillman/Allen team also wrote hit songs for Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
and Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
.
Stillman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
in 1982.
Perry Como hits
- "Home for the HolidaysHome for the Holidays (song)" Home for the Holidays" is a popular song, commonly associated with the Christmas season although the lyrics are more applicable to the Thanksgiving holidays....
" (1954) (Still played during the ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
holiday.) - "My One and Only Heart" (1953)
- "You Alone (Solo Tu)" (1953, redone in 1961)
Four Lads hits
- "Enchanted IslandEnchanted Island (song)"Enchanted Island" is a popular song with music written by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. The song was published in 1958, and featured as the title song of producer Benedict Bogeaus' feature film Enchanted Island, starring Dana Andrews and Jane Powell, and performed on the soundtrack by...
" (1958) - "Moments to RememberMoments to Remember"Moments to Remember" is a popular song published in 1955, and recorded by The Four Lads. The song was written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman.-History:...
" (1955) - "No, Not MuchNo, Not Much"No, Not Much" is a popular song published in 1955. The music was written by Robert Allen, the lyrics by Al Stillman.This song is an example of being rejected from the lover, stating that the lover does not get the pleasure, the thrills, and the satisfaction from his mate, stating that this was...
" (1956) - "There’s Only One of You" (1958)
- "Who Needs You?Who Needs You?The song was one of a large number of Stillman-Allen compositions recorded by The Four Lads. This recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40811. It first reached the Billboard charts on February 2, 1957...
" (1956)
Johnny Mathis hits
- "Chances AreChances Are (song)"Chances Are" is a popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was published in 1957. The song was one of a large number of compositions by the Stillman-Allen team that were chart hits in the 1950s. It was listed on Billboards "Most Played by Jockeys" survey for Johnny...
" (1957) - "It's Not For Me to SayIt's Not for Me to Say"It's Not for Me to Say" is a 1957 popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was written for the 1957 movie Lizzie , and was sung by Johnny Mathis....
" (1957) - "Teacher, Teacher" (1958)
Music by Ernesto Lecuona
- "The Breeze and IThe Breeze and I"The Breeze and I" is a popular song.The song is based on a Spanish language song, "Andalucia." The music to the original song was written by Ernesto Lecuona, with Spanish lyrics by Emilio de Torre; the English language lyric was written by Al Stillman....
" (1940) - "In Spain They Say ‘Si Si’" (co-written with Francia Luban)
- "You're the OneMalagueñaOriginally the sixth movement of the Suite Andalucia by Ernesto Lecuona, who also provided it with Spanish lyrics, the song "Malagueña" has since become a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages.-Notable vocal performances:A...
" as recorded by Kathy KirbyKathy KirbyKathy Kirby was an English singer who was reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's "Secret Love" and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, where she came in second place...
in 1964
Others
- "Air Cadet Song (music by Louis E.De Francesco, 1944 (published by Sam Fox Pub Co. NY NY)
- "And That Reminds MeAnd That Reminds Me"And That Reminds Me," also known as "My Heart Reminds Me," is a popular song.The music was based on the Italian instrumental, "Autumn Concerto," by Camillo Bargoni.English language lyrics were written by Al Stillman and Paul Siegel....
" (or "My Heart Reminds Me") (written with Camillo Bargoni, Dante Panzuti, and Paul Siegel.) (A hit for singers Vicki Carr, Kay StarrKay StarrKay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
, Julie LondonJulie LondonJulie London was an American singer and actress. She was best known for her smoky, sensual voice. London was at her singing career's peak in the 1950s. Her acting career lasted more than 35 years...
, Della ReeseDella ReeseDelloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
, Dean MartinDean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
, among others.) - "Baby, Don'cha Go 'Way Mad" (music by Jimmy MundyJimmy MundyJimmy Mundy was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, arranger, and composer, best known for his arrangements for Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Earl Hines....
.) (A hit for Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
.) - "Bless 'em AllBless 'Em All"Bless 'Em All" is a war song credited to have been written by Fred Godfrey in 1917 and first recorded by George Formby, Jr...
" (with Fred GodfreyFred GodfreyFred Godfrey was the pen name of Llewellyn Williams, a World War II songwriter...
, Frank Kerslake, and James LallyJames LallyJames Lally, Irish soldier and Jacobite, died 1691.Lally was an Irish landowner and politician from Tuam, County Galway. He was a leading member of the Gaelic clan of the O'Mullallys , which was based in the parish of Tuam, County Galway...
) (a World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
song) - "Can You Find It in Your Heart"
- "Every Step of the Way"
- "The Great Escape March"
- "Happy AnniversaryHappy Anniversary (1959 song)"Happy Anniversary" is a popular song with music written by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman and published in 1959. It was introduced in the movie of the same name. Recordings have been made by The Four Lads, Jane Morgan, Maureen Evans and Joan Regan....
" - "I BelieveI Believe (1953 song)"I Believe" is the name of a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953.I Believe was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on TV...
" (1952) (written with Ervin M. Drake, Irvin Graham, and Jimmy Shirl) (a hit for Frankie LaineFrankie LaineFrankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
, also recorded by many others, including Perry ComoPerry ComoPierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
) - "If Dreams Come TrueIf Dreams Come TrueMusic critic Michael Berick, writing for Allmusic, praised selected tracks, writing that overall "Sometimes the performances do suggest an excellent lounge band to the extent that you can almost hear the audience applause after a solo...
" - "I Love You and Don’t You Forget It" (1963) (music by Henry ManciniHenry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
) (A hit for Perry ComoPerry ComoPierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
.) - "Jukebox Saturday Night" (1942) (music by Paul McGrane) (A hit for the Glenn MillerGlenn MillerAlton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
Orchestra and the Pied Pipers vocal group.) - "The Little Boy"
- "Mama Yo Quiero" (written with Jararaca and Vincente Paiva.) (A hit for the Xavier CugatXavier CugatXavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
Orchestra and others.) - "Meantime"
- "An Old Flame Never Dies"
- "One, Two, Three, Kick"
- "A Room with a View"
- "Song About Love"
- "Taboo"
- "Tell Me That You Love Me Tonight"
- "There’s Nothing I Can Say"
- "Truly, Truly, True"
- "When I Am With You", (music by Benjamin Weisman.) (A hit for Johnny MathisJohnny MathisJohn Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
.) - "You and I Know"
- "Turn Off the Moon" (sung by Sue LyonSue Lyon- Lolita :Sue Lyon was 14 years old when she was cast in the role of Dolores "Lolita" Haze, the sexually charged adolescent and the object of an older man's obsessions in Stanley Kubrick's 1962 film, Lolita. She was chosen for the role partly because her curvy figure suggested an older adolescent...
, music by Bob Harris.)
Stage shows with scores by Stillman
- Howdy
- Icetime of 1948
- It Happens on Ice
- Mr. Ice
- Stars on Ice
- Virginia
Movies to which Stillman contributed songs
- The Cardinal
- Captains of the Clouds (19421942 in filmThe year 1942 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Casablanca.-Events:...
) (Was uncredited, but wrote the song "Bless Em All") - Carnival in Costa Rica (19471947 in filmThe year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
) (Wrote the songs "Costa RicaCosta RicaCosta Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
" and "Say Si Si") - I'll Cry Tomorrow (19551955 in filmThe year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
) (Film used his song "Cui Cui," originally written for The Long, Long Trailer.) - Lizzie (19571957 in filmThe year 1957 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue-Awards:...
) (Composed the song "It's Not For Me To SayIt's Not for Me to Say"It's Not for Me to Say" is a 1957 popular song with music by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman. It was written for the 1957 movie Lizzie , and was sung by Johnny Mathis....
") - The Long, Long Trailer (19541954 in filmThe year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
) (Composed the song "Cui Cui")