Harold Arlen

Full Name: Hyman Arluck
Profession: Composer

Nationality:

Biography: Pianist and composer of over 500 popular songs for dance bands, Broadway, and film musicals, with assorted lyricists including Ted Koehler, Yip Harburg, Ira Gershwin, and Johnny Mercer. Some of his best known songs are the standards "Over the Rainbow"; "It's Only A Paper Moon"; "Stormy Weather"; and "That Old Black Magic".

Against his parents' wishes, Arlen left home at 16 to pursue a career in music. Playing piano on lake excursion boats and the vaudeville theater circuit, he eventually landed at New York City's famed Cotton Club. There he was tasked with arranging and composing music in addition to his piano duties. While there, he wrote his first big hit "Stormy Weather" with Koehler.

Broadway successes such as "Life Begins at 8:40" (1934) and "Hooray for What!" (1938) led to his winning the job of providing songs for the musical film "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) along with Yip Harburg. Other film successes include "Cabin in the Sky" (1943) and "A Star Is Born" (1954).

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. The US Postal Service commemorated him with potage stamp in 1996 as part of their American Songwriters Series.

Born: February 15, 1905
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: April 23, 1986 (aged 81)
Cause of Death: Cancer