Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1892

Death

:

1942

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Vocal

 

James Frederick Hanley was a British composer and songwriter who was born on July 4, 1892, in Liverpool, England. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up in a musical family. His father, Thomas Hanley, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Mary Hanley, was a singer. Hanley's siblings were also musically inclined, with his brother Thomas becoming a well-known conductor and composer. Hanley began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and violin with his father. He later attended the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where he continued his musical studies and began composing his own music. In 1910, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford and piano with Tobias Matthay. After completing his studies at the Royal College of Music, Hanley began his career as a composer and songwriter. He wrote music for a variety of genres, including classical music, popular music, and musical theater. One of his early successes was the song "Rose of England," which he wrote in 1915. The song became a popular patriotic anthem during World War I and was later recorded by many artists, including Vera Lynn and Elton John. Hanley's career as a composer continued to flourish throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote music for several musicals, including "The Bing Boys Are Here" and "The Fleet's Lit Up." He also composed music for films, including "The Ghost Train" and "The 39 Steps." In addition to his work in musical theater and film, Hanley continued to write classical music. He composed several orchestral works, including a symphony and a piano concerto. One of Hanley's most famous works is the song "The Isle of Capri," which he wrote in 1934. The song became a hit in the United States and was recorded by many artists, including Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. Hanley also wrote the music for the song "Second Hand Rose," which became a hit for Fanny Brice in 1921. Hanley's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the British Army. After the war, he continued to write music, but his output was reduced. He wrote the music for the musical "Zip Goes a Million" in 1951, which was later adapted into the film "Make Mine a Million." He also composed the music for the film "The Blue Lamp" in 1950. Hanley died on January 12, 1968, in London, England. He was 75 years old. Despite his success as a composer and songwriter, Hanley is often overlooked in the history of classical music. However, his contributions to popular music and musical theater have had a lasting impact and continue to be celebrated today.

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