Albert Gamse (pronounced Gams-ee) (1901 – 1974) was an American lyricist. Albert Gamse was born in Latvia to a Jewish family and later emigrated to the United States, settling in the Bronx, NY, where he spent most of his life. In 1953, he moved into the basement apartment of a two-family house on Corsa Avenue, owned by his first cousin, Lydia Heymanson Flax. After Lydia's husband, William, died unexpectedly in 1953, Albert moved in to help support Lydia, her five children, and her sister, Rebecca "Joan" Heymanson. Lydia's children affectionately called him "Uncle Albert." Known for his brilliance, kindness, and generosity, Albert, who never married, was a devoted New York Times crossword enthusiast, solving the puzzles regularly. Gamse was a lyricist for songs that were sung by Dinah Shore, Desi Arnaz and Xavier Cugat, among others. Gamse wrote lyrics for the Presidential Anthem of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, "

Hail to the Chief "Hail to the Chief" is a piece originally announcing arrival by boat at an island in a Scottish loch, but today it is best known as the personal anthem of the president of the United States, adapted by James Sanderson from an original Scottis ...

Notable songs

*Helen-Polka (with Walt Dana and Jimmy Carroll) * Amapola *" Chantez, Chantez" (with

Irving Fields Irving Fields (born Yitzhak Schwartz; August 4, 1915 – August 20, 2016) was an American pianist and lounge music artist who was born in New York City. Some of his most noteworthy compositions include "Miami Beach Rhumba"; "Managua, Nicaragua"; ...

) * La Raspa (song, with Harold Grant) *

Managua, Nicaragua Managua () is the capital city, capital and largest city of Nicaragua, and one of the List of largest cities in Central America, largest cities in Central America. Located on the shores of Lake Managua, the city had an estimated population of 1, ...

(with Irving Fields) * Miami Beach Rhumba (with

) * Something New from '' Mr. Saturday Night'' (with

Nilo Menéndez Nilo Menéndez Barnet (26 September 1902 – 15 September 1987) was a Cuban-born naturalized American songwriter. Born in Matanzas in 1902, Menéndez came to the United States in 1924 when he was 22. He wrote his best known song " Aquellos Ojos Verd ...

, performed by

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader, known as the "King of Swing". His orchestra did well commercially. From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing bi ...

) *

Yours (Quiéreme Mucho) "Quiéreme mucho" is a criolla-bolero composed in 1911 by Gonzalo Roig with lyrics by Ramón Gollury and Agustín Rodríguez. The song was inspired by Roig's wife, Blanca Becerra, and premiered in Havana in 1911 without much success. In 1917, it ...

(with Jack Sherr)

Books

''World's Favorite Sing Along Songs of the Gay Nineties''

References

1901 births 1974 deaths American lyricists Place of birth missing {{US-songwriter-stub