Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 8, 1896 in New York City, NY

Death

:

March 5, 1981 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

E.Y. "Yip" Harburg was an American lyricist and songwriter who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on April 8, 1896, in New York City, Harburg grew up in a Jewish family and was exposed to music from an early age. His father was a cantor, and his mother played the piano. Harburg attended Townsend Harris High School and later City College of New York, where he studied journalism. After college, Harburg worked as a journalist and began writing lyrics for Broadway shows. In 1929, he wrote the lyrics for his first hit song, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" The song became an anthem of the Great Depression and was later recorded by many artists, including Bing Crosby and Judy Collins. Harburg continued to write lyrics for Broadway shows throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He collaborated with composer Harold Arlen on several musicals, including "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), which featured the classic song "Over the Rainbow." The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and became one of the most beloved songs in American music history. In addition to his work on Broadway, Harburg also wrote lyrics for Hollywood films. He collaborated with Arlen on several films, including "The Wizard of Oz" and "A Star is Born" (1954). He also wrote lyrics for other films, including "Cabin in the Sky" (1943) and "Finian's Rainbow" (1968). Harburg was known for his witty and socially conscious lyrics. He often used his songs to comment on political and social issues of the day. For example, his song "The Begat" (1946) was a satirical take on the biblical story of Adam and Eve, and his song "Down with Love" (1937) was a commentary on the state of romantic relationships in the modern world. Harburg was also a political activist and was involved in various progressive causes throughout his life. He was a member of the Communist Party in the 1930s and was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. He continued to write and perform, however, and his work remained popular with audiences. Harburg received many awards and honors throughout his career. He won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow" and was nominated for several other Oscars. He also won a Tony Award for Best Original Score for "Finian's Rainbow" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972. Harburg died on March 5, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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