Irving Gordon
Encyclopedia
Irving Gordon was an American songwriter.
, and after attending public schools in New York City
, went to work in the Catskill Mountains
at some of the resort hotel
s in the area. While working in the hotels, he took to writing parody
lyrics to some of the popular songs of the day. In the 1930s, he took a job with the music publishing firm headed by talent agent Irving Mills, at first writing only lyrics but subsequently writing music as well.
After Gordon was introduced to Duke Ellington
in 1937, Ellington sometimes invited Gordon to put words to his compositions. Working with Ellington was probably the most difficult commission there was, because most of the Ellington songs were really instrumental pieces whose singable potential only emerged after they had been played and recorded by one or another of the soloists in the Ellington orchestra.
After writing "Mister and Mississippi
", Gordon decided he enjoyed puns on state names, and some years later wrote "Delaware
." He is perhaps best known for his song, "Allentown Jail
", which was played by numerous other musicians, and told the story of a man who stole a diamond for his girlfriend and ended up in the Allentown
jail, unable to make bail. Late in his life he won a Grammy for Song of the Year when Natalie Cole re-recorded her father's (Nat "king" Cole) earlier hit of "Unforgettable".
Gordon did not care for Rock music
, which he said was composed not of "melodies but maladies." Gordon told the Los Angeles Times that by 1960 the vogue for rhymed words and hummable melodies had passed, "So I became a tennis pro. I have many lives."
Abbott and Costello
often performed a comedy routine, Who's on First?
, a baseball joke which they had perfected during their years in vaudeville. Gordon has been credited with writing "Who's on first?," though others have also claimed authorship.
Gordon is noted for his contribution to music and lyrics of the Americana
genre.
He died of cancer in Los Angeles, California.
Biography
Irving Gordon was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, he studied violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, and after attending public schools in New York City
New 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...
, went to work in the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
at some of the resort hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s in the area. While working in the hotels, he took to writing parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
lyrics to some of the popular songs of the day. In the 1930s, he took a job with the music publishing firm headed by talent agent Irving Mills, at first writing only lyrics but subsequently writing music as well.
After Gordon was introduced to Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
in 1937, Ellington sometimes invited Gordon to put words to his compositions. Working with Ellington was probably the most difficult commission there was, because most of the Ellington songs were really instrumental pieces whose singable potential only emerged after they had been played and recorded by one or another of the soloists in the Ellington orchestra.
After writing "Mister and Mississippi
Mister and Mississippi
"Mister and Mississippi" is a popular song, written by Irving Gordon. It was published in 1951. The song was popularized by Patti Page. It was also recorded by Rex Allen, Dennis Day and Johnny Desmond....
", Gordon decided he enjoyed puns on state names, and some years later wrote "Delaware
Delaware (song)
"Delaware" is a popular song, written by Irving Gordon. The song was published in 1959 and has references to 15 States, in such fashion as: "Where has Oregon, boy?" and "Why did Cali-phone ya?"...
." He is perhaps best known for his song, "Allentown Jail
Allentown Jail
"Allentown Jail" is a folk song. Written by Irving Gordon, it tells the story of a man who is caught stealing a diamond for his girlfriend and ends up in the Allentown jail....
", which was played by numerous other musicians, and told the story of a man who stole a diamond for his girlfriend and ended up in the Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
jail, unable to make bail. Late in his life he won a Grammy for Song of the Year when Natalie Cole re-recorded her father's (Nat "king" Cole) earlier hit of "Unforgettable".
Gordon did not care for Rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, which he said was composed not of "melodies but maladies." Gordon told the Los Angeles Times that by 1960 the vogue for rhymed words and hummable melodies had passed, "So I became a tennis pro. I have many lives."
Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
often performed a comedy routine, Who's on First?
Who's on First?
Who's on First? is a vaudeville comedy routine made most famous by Abbott and Costello. In Abbott and Costello's version, the premise of the routine is that Abbott is identifying the players on a baseball team to Costello, but their names and nicknames can be interpreted as non-responsive answers...
, a baseball joke which they had perfected during their years in vaudeville. Gordon has been credited with writing "Who's on first?," though others have also claimed authorship.
Gordon is noted for his contribution to music and lyrics of the Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
genre.
He died of cancer in Los Angeles, California.
Partial selection of his published songs
- "Allentown JailAllentown Jail"Allentown Jail" is a folk song. Written by Irving Gordon, it tells the story of a man who is caught stealing a diamond for his girlfriend and ends up in the Allentown jail....
" - "Be Anything, But Darling Be Mine"
- "Blue Prelude" (lyrics by Gordon; music by Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
) - "DelawareDelaware (song)"Delaware" is a popular song, written by Irving Gordon. The song was published in 1959 and has references to 15 States, in such fashion as: "Where has Oregon, boy?" and "Why did Cali-phone ya?"...
" (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...
hit vocal) - "Mama From The TrainMama from the Train"Mama From the Train" — also known as Mama From the Train — is a popular song. written by Irving Gordon and published in 1956....
" (Patti PagePatti PageClara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
hit vocal) - "Me, Myself and I" (Billie HolidayBillie HolidayBillie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
hit vocal, co-written with Allan RobertsAllan RobertsAllan Roberts was a British politician who was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1979 until his death. A teacher and social worker before his election, he was a member of the left-wing of the party.-Early life:...
and Alvin S. Kaufman) - "Mister and MississippiMister and Mississippi"Mister and Mississippi" is a popular song, written by Irving Gordon. It was published in 1951. The song was popularized by Patti Page. It was also recorded by Rex Allen, Dennis Day and Johnny Desmond....
" (Patti PagePatti PageClara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
hit vocal) - "Prelude to a KissPrelude to a KissPrelude to a Kiss is a 1988 play by Craig Lucas. It tells the story of a couple that falls in love despite the girl's pessimistic outlook on life...
" (lyrics by Gordon; music by Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Irving MillsIrving MillsIrving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
) - "Two Brothers" (Civil War Song)
- "UnforgettableUnforgettable (song)"Unforgettable" is a popular song written by Irving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable". The music publishing company asked Irving to change it to "Unforgettable". The song was published in 1951....
" (major hit for Nat King ColeNat King ColeNathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1992) - "What Will I Tell My Heart" (Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
hit vocal) - "Sinner or Saint" (1952)
- "Sorta on the Border" (1953)
- "The Kentuckian Song" (Eddy ArnoldEddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
vocal from the Burt LancasterBurt LancasterBurton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
film The KentuckianThe KentuckianThe Kentuckian is a 1955 adventure film directed by Burt Lancaster, who also starred. It also marked the feature film debut of Walter Matthau. The picture is an adaptation of the novel The Gabriel Horn by Felix Holt...
, 1955) - "Rollin' Stone" (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...
vocal)