Loesser, Frank

Loesser, Frank

▪ American composer and lyricist
born June 29, 1910, New York City
died July 28, 1969, New York City

      American composer, librettist, and lyricist, who achieved major success writing for Broadway musicals, culminating in the 1962 Pulitzer Prize-winning How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

      Self-taught despite his piano-teacher father's efforts to discourage his youthful interest in popular song, Loesser dropped out of the City College of New York and worked at various nonmusical jobs before becoming a music publisher's staff lyricist in the late 1920s. Little of his work was published until “I Wish I Were Twins” (1934) was recorded by Fats Waller. In 1936 Loesser moved to Hollywood, where he became an accomplished lyricist, collaborating with Hoagy Carmichael on “Small Fry” and “Two Sleepy People” and with Joseph J. Lilley on “Jingle, Jangle, Jingle.” Other composers for whom he wrote lyrics included Burton Lane, Jule Styne, Arthur Schwartz, Frederick Hollander, and Jimmy McHugh.

      Loesser's first melody with lyrics was “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition,” the first big hit song of World War II. During the war he wrote for soldier-produced shows at army camps and composed the official song of the infantry, “What Do You Do in the Infantry?” From 1947 Loesser enjoyed major successes on Broadway and in Hollywood, often with songs employing an urban, postwar vernacular. His song “On a Slow Boat to China” was a leading hit of 1948. Where's Charley? (1948), a musical comedy version of the farce Charley's Aunt, and Guys and Dolls (1950), based on the stories of Damon Runyon, both received Tony Awards and were made into successful motion pictures (1952 and 1955, respectively). The Most Happy Fella (1956) contained elements of opera, but Loesser returned to his earlier formula in How to Succeed.

      In Hollywood Loesser's composing work included the score for the film Hans Christian Andersen (1952), starring Danny Kaye. The song “Baby It's Cold Outside” won a 1949 Academy Award.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • LOESSER, FRANK — (1910–1969), composer. Born in New York, Loesser wrote songs while at City College and then in the army during World War II, of which Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition became the best known. He settled in Hollywood and wrote music for films …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Loesser, Frank (Henry) — born June 29, 1910, New York, N.Y., U.S. died July 28, 1969, New York City U.S. composer, librettist, and lyricist. The son of a piano teacher, in 1936 he moved to Hollywood, where he worked with Burton Lane, Jule Styne, Jimmy McHugh, and Hoagy… …   Universalium

  • Loesser, Frank (Henry) — (29 jun. 1910, Nueva York, EE.UU.–28 jul.1969, Nueva York). Compositor libretista y poeta lírico estadounidense. Hijo de un profesor de piano, en 1936 se trasladó a Hollywood, donde trabajó con Burton Lane, Jule Styne, Jimmy McHugh y Hoagy… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Frank Henry Loesser — (* 29. Juni 1910; † 28. Juli 1969 in New York) war ein US amerikanischer Komponist und Liedtexter. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Musicals 3 Bekannte Songs 4 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frank — Frank, Karl Hermann Frank, Leonhard Frank, ll´ja Michailovič * * * (as used in expressions) Baum, L(yman) Frank Buckley, William F(rank), Jr. Burnet, Sir (Frank) Macfarlane Capra, Frank Chapman, Frank Michler Frank James Cooper …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Frank Sinatra/Songs und Alben — Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Songmaterial, Arrangeure und Orchesterleiter 2 Bedeutende Songs (knappe Auswahl) 3 Studio Alben 3.1 Originale Studioalben (LPs) 3.2 Originale Studioalben m …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • frank — frank1 frankable, adj. franker, n. /frangk/, adj., franker, frankest, n., v. adj. 1. direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere: Her criticism of my work was frank but absolutely fair. 2. without inhibition or subterfuge; direct;… …   Universalium

  • Frank — /frangk/, n. 1. a member of a group of ancient Germanic peoples dwelling in the regions of the Rhine, one division of whom, the Salians, conquered Gaul about A.D. 500, founded an extensive kingdom, and gave origin to the name France. 2. (in the… …   Universalium

  • Frank Loesser — Frank Henry Loesser (* 29. Juni 1910; † 28. Juli 1969 in New York) war ein US amerikanischer Komponist und Liedtexter. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Musicals 3 Bekannte Songs …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Frank Henry Loesser — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Frank Henry Loesser (29 de junio, 1910, Nueva York 28 de julio, 1969, Nueva York) fue un libretista, compositor y letrista estadounidense. En 1936 se trasladó a Hollywood, donde trabajó con Hoagy Carmichael, Burton… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”