Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

January 27, 1895 in New York City, NY

Death

:

July 11, 1950 in Los Angeles, CA

 

Buddy DeSylva was an American composer, lyricist, and producer who was born on January 27, 1895, in New York City. He was the son of a wealthy family and grew up in a privileged environment. His father was a successful businessman, and his mother was a talented pianist who encouraged her son's interest in music. DeSylva began his musical career as a songwriter in the early 1910s, working with a number of different collaborators. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented lyricist, and his songs were performed by some of the most popular singers of the day, including Al Jolson and Sophie Tucker. In 1918, DeSylva teamed up with George Gershwin and Irving Caesar to write the score for the Broadway musical "La, La, Lucille." The show was a huge success, and it established DeSylva as one of the leading songwriters of his generation. Over the next few years, DeSylva continued to work on Broadway, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the business. He wrote the lyrics for the hit musicals "The Desert Song" and "Sunny," and he worked with composers like Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers. In 1929, DeSylva made the move to Hollywood, where he began working as a producer for Paramount Pictures. He quickly established himself as one of the most successful producers in the business, and he was responsible for a number of hit films, including "The Cocoanuts" and "Animal Crackers," which starred the Marx Brothers. Despite his success as a producer, DeSylva never lost his love for music, and he continued to write songs throughout his career. In fact, some of his most famous songs were written during his time in Hollywood, including "Button Up Your Overcoat" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free." DeSylva's career continued to flourish throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and he worked on a number of successful films and musicals. He wrote the lyrics for the hit musical "Of Thee I Sing," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1932, and he worked on a number of successful films, including "The Fleet's In" and "The Jolson Story." In addition to his work as a songwriter and producer, DeSylva was also a successful businessman. He co-founded the publishing company DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson, which was responsible for publishing some of the most famous songs of the era, including "Birth of the Blues" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Despite his many successes, DeSylva's life was not without its challenges. He struggled with alcoholism throughout his career, and his personal life was often tumultuous. He was married three times, and he had a number of affairs with actresses and other women. Despite these challenges, DeSylva remained a beloved figure in the world of music and entertainment. He was known for his wit, his charm, and his talent, and he continued to write songs and produce films until his death in 1950. Today, Buddy DeSylva is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of American music. His songs continue to be performed and recorded by musicians around the world, and his legacy as a songwriter, producer, and businessman remains an inspiration to generations of musicians and entrepreneurs.

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