Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910 – July 26, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the scores to the
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
hits
Guys And DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical, with the music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most...
and
How To Succeed In Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the
Pulitzer Prize for DramaThe Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than being the calendar...
for the latter. He also wrote numerous songs for films and
Tin pan alleyTin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
, many of which have become standards, and was nominated for five
Academy AwardsThe Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
for best song, winning once for "
Baby, It's Cold Outside"Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a pop standard with words and music by Frank Loesser. One of the all time Christmas favorites.-Background:Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party....
".
Loesser was born in New York City to Henry Loesser, a pianist, and Julia Ehrlich.
Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910 – July 26, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the scores to the
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
hits
Guys And DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical, with the music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most...
and
How To Succeed In Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the
Pulitzer Prize for DramaThe Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than being the calendar...
for the latter. He also wrote numerous songs for films and
Tin pan alleyTin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
, many of which have become standards, and was nominated for five
Academy AwardsThe Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
for best song, winning once for "
Baby, It's Cold Outside"Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a pop standard with words and music by Frank Loesser. One of the all time Christmas favorites.-Background:Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party....
".
Early years
Loesser was born in New York City to Henry Loesser, a pianist, and Julia Ehrlich. He left
City College of New YorkThe City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1925 after one year. After trying various jobs, by 1935 he was performing in a club with singer Lynn Blankenbaker Garland, whom he married in 1936.
After signing with
Universal PicturesThis is a partial listing of films produced and/or distributed by Universal Pictures, the main motion picture production/distribution arm of Universal Studios, a subsidiary of NBC Universal.-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc...
in 1936 he moved to Hollywood, and then worked for
Paramount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is a Worldwide American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is the world's oldest existing American film studio; it is also the last...
. He wrote the lyrics for many songs during this period, including "
Two Sleepy People"Two Sleepy People" is a song written on September 10, 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser.As well as being recorded by Carmichael himself, the song has been performed and recorded by a number of artists including Al Bowlly, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Art Garfunkel, Fats Waller,...
" and "
I Hear Music"I Hear Music" is a popular song composed by Burton Lane, with lyrics by Frank Loesser for the Paramount Pictures movie Dancing on a Dime .-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Swings Brightly with Nelson...
. He stayed in Hollywood until
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when he joined the Army Air Force.
One of the early films he worked on was
Destry Rides AgainThis article is about the movie Destry Rides Again. For the novel, see Destry Rides Again . For the Broadway musical, see Destry Rides Again ....
(1939), for which he wrote the lyrics to "
See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have"See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" is a song written by Frank Loesser, set to music by Frederick Hollander and performed by Marlene Dietrich in the film, Destry Rides Again. Her winking performance was a parody of her vampish roles in earlier fims such as The Blue Angel and Blonde Venus...
", sung by
Marlene DietrichMarlene Dietrich was a German-born American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself. In 1920s Berlin, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
.
WWII era
During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he wrote 1942's "
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" is an American patriotic song written by Frank Loesser and published as sheet music in 1942 by Famous Music Corp. The song was a response to the Attack on Pearl Harbor that marked United States involvement in World War II.The song describes a chaplain ...
". Formerly a successful lyricist in collaboration with other composers, this was the first song for which Loesser composed the melody in addition to the lyric.
In 1944, Loesser worked on a little known musical intended to be performed by and for US soldiers abroad, titled
Hi Yank!, the music for which was composed by
Alex NorthAlex North was an American composer who wrote the first jazz-based film score and one of the first modernist scores written in Hollywood, ....
.
Hi Yank! was produced by the U.S. Army Office of Special Services as a "blueprint special" to boost the morale of soldiers located where USO shows could not visit. The "blueprint" was a book containing a musical script with instructions for staging the show, using materials locally available to deployed soldiers. A document located at the US Army Centre for Military History states, "A touring company has been formed in Italy to tour a production of "Hi, Yank!"".
This unique
Hi Yank! show without stars or a conventional theater run was generally forgotten until 2008, when the PBS
History DetectivesHistory Detectives is a television program on PBS. A group of researchers help people to seek answers to various historical questions they have, usually centering around a family heirloom, an old house or other historic object or structure...
TV show researched the case of a long-saved radio transcription disc. The disc has two songs and a promotional announcement for the show's Fort Dix premiere in August 1944, when the disc was broadcast there.
Career
In 1948, Broadway producers
Cy FeuerCy Feuer was a Tony Award-winning American theatre producer, director, composer, and musician.Born Seymour Arnold Feuerman in Brooklyn, New York, he became a professional trumpeter at the age of fifteen, working at clubs on weekends to help support his family while attending New Utrecht High School...
and Ernest Martin asked Loesser to write both music and lyrics to
George AbbottGeorge Francis Abbott was an American theater producer and director, playwright, screenwriter, and film director and producer whose career spanned more than seven decades.-Early years:...
's book for an adaptation of the
Brandon ThomasWalter Brandon Thomas was an English actor, playwright and song writer. He is best known for writing the comic play Charley's Aunt , which broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original London run of 1,466 performances.-Biography:Thomas was born in Liverpool, England...
play
Charley's AuntCharley's Aunt is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original London run of 1,466 performances....
. That musical,
Where's Charley?Where's Charley? is a theatre musical with music & lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by George Abbott. The story was based on the play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas...
(1948), starred
Ray BolgerRaymond Wallace "Ray" Bolger was an American entertainer of stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the Scarecrow and Kansas farmworker Hunk in the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.-Early life:...
, and ran for a successful 792 performances. This led to his next musical,
Guys and DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical, with the music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most...
(1950), also produced by Feuer and Martin, which became a hit and earned him two Tony Awards.
He wrote the book, music and lyrics for his next two musicals,
The Most Happy FellaThe Most Happy Fella is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard...
(1956) and
GreenwillowGreenwillow is a musical with a book by Lesser Samuels and Frank Loesser and music and lyrics by Loesser.Based on the novel by B.J. Chute, the fantasy is set in the magical town of Greenwillow, where the eldest in each generation of Briggs men must obey the "call to wander," while the women they...
(1960). He wrote the music and lyrics for
How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
(1961), which ran for 1,417 performances and won the 1962
Pulitzer Prize for DramaThe Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918.From 1918 to 2006, the Drama Prize was unlike the majority of the other Pulitzer Prizes: during these years, the eligibility period for the drama prize ran from March 2 to March 1, to reflect the Broadway 'season' rather than being the calendar...
and for which he received two more Tonys.
The last musical that he worked on,
Pleasures and PalacesPleasures and Palaces is a musical with a book by Frank Loesser and Sam Spewack and music and lyrics by Loesser. It is based on Spewack's flop 1961 play Once There Was a Russian and takes its title from the opening lyrics of the 1823 song "Home, Sweet Home": "Mid pleasures and palaces though we...
(1965), closed during out-of-town tryouts.
Another unproduced musical,
Senor Discretion Himself, premiered after his death. He started working on a musical version of the
Budd SchulbergBudd Schulberg was an American screenwriter, television producer, novelist and sports writer. He was known for his 1941 novel, What Makes Sammy Run?, his 1947 novel The Harder They Fall, his 1954 Academy-award-winning screenplay for On the Waterfront, and his 1957 screenplay for A Face in the...
short story
Senor Discretion Himself in 1966, but stopped working on it after 2 years. A version was presented in 1985 at the New York Musical Theatre Works. With the support of Jo Loesser, a completed version was presented at the
Arena StageArena Stage is a theater production company in Southwest Washington, D.C. The theater company's home is on the DC waterfront, at 1101 Sixth Street, SW...
, Washington, DC, in 2004, reworked by the group
Culture ClashCulture Clash is an Chicano American performance troupe composed of the writer-comedians Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas, and Herbert Sigüenza. Their work is of a satirical nature....
and director Charles Randolph-Wright.
Personal life
Loesser married
Jo SullivanElizabeth Josephine "Jo" Sullivan Loesser is an American soprano and the widow of composer Frank Loesser. Her daughter, Emily Loesser, is also a singer-actress....
(born Elizabeth Josephine Sullivan) on April 30, 1959. Loesser was introduced to Jo by his first wife Lynn. She had played a lead in
Most Happy Fella. They had two children, Hannah and Emily. Emily is a performer.
His first two children with Lynn Loesser, his first wife, are John Loesser and Susan Loesser, an author who wrote her father's biography
A Most Remarkable Fella: Frank Loesser and the Guys and Dolls in His Life: A Portrait by His Daughter (1993, 2000).
He died of
lung cancerLung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. This growth may lead to metastasis, which is the invasion of adjacent tissue and infiltration beyond the lungs. The vast majority of primary lung cancers are carcinomas of the lung, derived from epithelial cells...
at age 59 in New York City.
Notable songs
Loesser was the lyricist of over 700 songs.
Broadway musicals:
- "Once in Love With Amy" from Where's Charley?
Where's Charley? is a theatre musical with music & lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by George Abbott. The story was based on the play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas...
- "A Bushel and a Peck
"A Bushel and a Peck" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser and published in 1950. The song was introduced in the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls, which opened at the 46th Street Theater on November 24, 1950. It was performed on stage by Vivian Blaine, who later reprised her role as Miss...
", "Fugue for Tinhorns", "I'll Know", "If I Were A Bell"If I Were a Bell" is a song from the Frank Loesser show Guys and Dolls.-Guys and Dolls:In the show Guys and Dolls, it is sung by the character Sister Sarah, originally performed by Isabel Bigley on Broadway, and memorialized on the original cast album. On a bet, Sky Masterson takes Sarah Brown to...
" (a favorite of Miles DavisMiles Davis III was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.Widely considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz...
, featured in recordings with John ColtraneJohn William "Trane" Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
) and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"Luck Be a Lady" is a song written by Frank Loesser and performed by Simon Mullins. The song was featured in the musical Guys and Dolls.The lyrics relate the point of view of a gambler who hopes that he will win a bet, the outcome of which will decide whether or not he is able to save his...
" from Guys and DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical, with the music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most...
- "Standing on the Corner
"Standing on the Corner" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser and published in 1956. It was introduced by Shorty Long, Alan Gilbert, John Henson, and Roy Lazarus in the Broadway musical, The Most Happy Fella....
" from The Most Happy FellaThe Most Happy Fella is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story, about a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard...
- "Never Will I Marry" from Greenwillow
Greenwillow is a musical with a book by Lesser Samuels and Frank Loesser and music and lyrics by Loesser.Based on the novel by B.J. Chute, the fantasy is set in the magical town of Greenwillow, where the eldest in each generation of Briggs men must obey the "call to wander," while the women they...
- "I Believe In You" and "The Brotherhood of Man" from How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
Film and
Tin Pan AlleyTin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
:
- "Baby, It's Cold Outside
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" can refer to:*"Baby, It's Cold Outside", a 1948 song by Frank Loesser*"Cold Outside", a song by country music band Big House from their self-titled debut album...
" from the M-G-M picture "Neptune's Daughter" (1949). This was originally a song which Loesser and his wife Lynn performed at parties for the private entertainment of friends. They also recorded the song for Mercury RecordsMercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Music Group in the US, and are both subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal Music...
. Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-MayerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., or MGM, is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B...
to supply a full score for Neptune's Daughter, Loesser included this song which he had created in 1944, originally for their housewarming party.
- "Heart and Soul
"Heart and Soul" is a popular song, with music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Frank Loesser, published in 1938. The original 1938 version was performed by Larry Clinton & his Orchestra featuring Bea Wain....
" (from the Paramount short subject A Song is Born) – lyrics
- "I Don't Want to Walk Without You
"I Don't Want to Walk Without You" is a popular song.The music was written by Jule Styne, the lyrics by Frank Loesser. The song was published in 1941 and became a number one pop hit for Harry James and his orchestra in 1942....
" from the Paramount picture Sweater Girl (1942)
- "On a Slow Boat to China" (1948)
- "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year" from the Universal picture Christmas Holiday
Christmas Holiday is a 1944 drama directed by Robert Siodmak. The black-and-white film noir is loosely based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham. Producer Felix Jackson chose this project as a dramatic vehicle for Deanna Durbin. The screenplay was adapted by Herman J. Mankiewicz, who counted it among...
(1944)
- "Inch Worm
"Inchworm", also known as "The Inch Worm", is a song originally performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. It was written by Frank Loesser....
", "Thumbelina" and "Wonderful Copenhagen" (which is now the official song of the city of Copenhagen) from the Samuel Goldwyn picture "Hans Christian Anderson" (1952)
- "Two Sleepy People
"Two Sleepy People" is a song written on September 10, 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Frank Loesser.As well as being recorded by Carmichael himself, the song has been performed and recorded by a number of artists including Al Bowlly, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Art Garfunkel, Fats Waller,...
" (music by Hoagy CarmichaelHoagland Howard "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust" , "Georgia On My Mind," and "Heart and Soul", three of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the American popular song,...
) from the Paramount picture "Thanks for the Memory" (1938)
- "What are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (written in 1947)
He was also the author of "The Ballad of Rodger Young", which was prominently quoted in
Robert A. HeinleinRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called "the dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most popular, influential, and controversial authors of the genre. He set a high standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's...
's novel
Starship TroopersStarship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his exploits in the Mobile...
.
Awards and legacy
Loesser received
Tony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American theatre and are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are for Broadway productions and...
s for music and lyrics for each of
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and
Guys and Dolls. He was nominated for the Tony Award for book, music and lyrics for
The Most Happy Fella and as Best Composer for
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Loesser was awarded a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
in 1961 for
Best Original Cast Show AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album has been awarded since 1959. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1959 the award was known as Best Original Cast Album *In 1960 it was awarded as Best Broadway Show Album...
for
How To Succeed In Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
.
He won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside". He was nominated four more times:
- "Dolores" from Las Vegas Nights (1941)
- "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" from Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
- "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" from The Perils of Pauline (1947)
- "Thumbelina" (1953)
In 2006 the PBS documentary,
Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank LoesserHeart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser is a 2006 American documentary film about Guys and Dolls composer/lyricist Frank Loesser. Directed by Walter J. Gottlieb, it is credited as the first-ever tv documentary about Loesser and was produced by Gottlieb and associate producer James F...
was released.
External links