J. Fred Coots
Encyclopedia
John Frederick Coots was an American
songwriter
. He wrote over 700 songs.
He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.
Among his songs are:
He wrote the first three songs with the lyricist
Haven Gillespie
. "Louisiana Fairy Tale" was also written with Mitchell Parish
and was the first theme song for the PBS production of This Old House
. "For All We Know
" was written with lyricist Sam M. Lewis
.
In 1934 when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
", Coots came up with the skeleton of the music in just ten minutes. Later when Coots brought the song to his publisher, Leo Feist Inc., they liked it but thought it was a kids' song and did not expect too much from it.
Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor
who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music, and, by Christmas, sales had passed 400,000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He wrote over 700 songs.
He is most famous for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
", a song that became one of the biggest best sellers in American music history.
Among his songs are:
- Santa Claus Is Coming to TownSanta Claus Is Coming to Town"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
- You Go To My HeadYou Go to My Head"You Go to My Head" is a 1938 popular song composed by J. Fred Coots with lyrics by Haven Gillespie. The song is a unique conjunction of a sophisticated lyric and complex, lush harmonic structure by two songwriters who were not generally known for such elegance; nevertheless the song is highly...
- Louisiana Fairy Tale
- For All We KnowFor All We Know"For All We Know" can refer to a number of songs:*"For All We Know" , a song by Sam M. Lewis and J. Fred Coots*"For All We Know" , a song by Robb Wilson, Fred Karlin, and Arthur James, made popular by the Carpenters...
- I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking of You)
He wrote the first three songs with the lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Haven Gillespie
Haven Gillespie
James Lamont "Haven" Gillespie was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist. He was the writer of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as well as "You Go to My Head", "Honey", "By the Sycamore Tree", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Breezin' Along With The Breeze", "Right or Wrong," "Beautiful Love",...
. "Louisiana Fairy Tale" was also written with Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish was an American lyricist.-Early life:Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky to a Jewish family in Lithuania. His family emigrated to the United States, arriving on February 3, 1901 on the SS Dresden when he was less than a year old...
and was the first theme song for the PBS production of This Old House
This Old House
This Old House is an American home improvement magazine and television series aired on the American television station Public Broadcasting Service which follows remodeling projects of houses over a number of weeks.-Overview:...
. "For All We Know
For All We Know
"For All We Know" can refer to a number of songs:*"For All We Know" , a song by Sam M. Lewis and J. Fred Coots*"For All We Know" , a song by Robb Wilson, Fred Karlin, and Arthur James, made popular by the Carpenters...
" was written with lyricist Sam M. Lewis
Sam M. Lewis
Sam M. Lewis was a Jewish-American singer and lyricist, born in New York City, New York as Samuel Levine-Biography:...
.
In 1934 when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
", Coots came up with the skeleton of the music in just ten minutes. Later when Coots brought the song to his publisher, Leo Feist Inc., they liked it but thought it was a kids' song and did not expect too much from it.
Coots offered the song to Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
who used it on his radio show that November and it became an instant hit. The morning after the radio show there were orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music, and, by Christmas, sales had passed 400,000.
Timeline - J. Fred Coots
- 1897 May 2 - Born in BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - 1914 (17) While working in a bank decided to change careers
- 1917 (20) Had his first song published
- 1922 (25) Wrote the music for a Broadway show called "Sally, Irene, and Mary"
- 1928 (31) Wrote "Doin' the Raccoon"
- 1929 (32) Moved to Hollywood, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 1931 (34) Wrote "Love Letters in the SandLove Letters in the Sand"Love Letters in the Sand" is a popular song first published in 1931. The music was written by J. Fred Coots and the lyrics by Nick Kenny and Charles Kenny. The song was "inspired" by an 1881 composition, "The Spanish Cavalier"...
" - 1934 (37) Wrote the songs "Santa Claus Is Coming to TownSanta Claus Is Coming to Town"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a Christmas song. It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934....
" (over 4 million copies of sheet music sold) and "For All We KnowFor All We Know"For All We Know" can refer to a number of songs:*"For All We Know" , a song by Sam M. Lewis and J. Fred Coots*"For All We Know" , a song by Robb Wilson, Fred Karlin, and Arthur James, made popular by the Carpenters...
" - 1940 (43) Wrote the New York Rangers victory songHistory of the New York Rangers-Early years:In 1925, the New York Americans joined the National Hockey League, playing in Madison Square Garden. The Amerks proved to be an even greater success than expected, leading Garden president Tex Rickard to go after a team for the Garden despite promising the Amerks that they would be the...
- 1985 (89) April 8 - Died in New York CityNew York CityNew 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...