Con Conrad (born Conrad K. Dober, June 18, 1891 – September 28, 1938) was an American songwriter and producer.

Biography

Conrad was born in

Manhattan, New York Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. stat ...

, and published his first song, "Down in Dear Old New Orleans", in 1912. Conrad produced the Broadway show ''The Honeymoon Express'', starring

Al Jolson Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed ...

, in 1913. By 1918, Conrad was writing and publishing with Henry Waterson (1873–1933). He co-composed " Margie" in 1920 with J. Russel Robinson and lyricist

Benny Davis Benny Davis (August 21, 1895 - December 20, 1979) was a vaudeville performer and writer of popular songs. Biography Davis started performing in vaudeville in his teens. He began writing songs when working as an accompanist for Blossom Seeley ...

, which became his first major hit. He went on to compose hits that became standards, including: * "

Palesteena "Palesteena", or, "Lena from Palesteena", was a 1920 song, with lyrics by Con Conrad, and music by J. Russell Robinson. Background It was originally recorded and performed by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, a band of New Orleans jazz musicians, ...

" with co-composer and co-lyricist J. Russel Robinson (1920) * " Singin' the Blues" with co-composer J. Russel Robinson and lyricists Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young (1920) * "You've Got to See Mama Ev'ry Night" with co-composer and co-lyricist Billy Rose (1923) * "Come on Spark Plug" with co-composer and co-lyricist Billy Rose (1923) * "Barney Google" with co-composer and co-lyricist Billy Rose (1923) * "Memory Lane" with lyricist

Buddy DeSylva George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva (January 27, 1895 – July 11, 1950) was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs and, along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs, he co-founded Capitol Rec ...

and co-composer Larry Spier (1924) * "Lonesome and Sorry" with lyricist

(1926) * "

Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me "Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me", alternatively sung as "Ma, She's Making Eyes At Me", is a song published in 1921. The lyrics were by the American composer and comedian Sidney Clare, and the music was by the American songwriter and producer Con ...

" with lyricist Sidney Clare (1928) In 1923, Conrad focused on the stage and wrote the scores for the Broadway shows: ''The Greenwich Village Follies'', ''Moonlight'', ''Betty Lee'', ''Kitty’s Kisses'' and '' Americana''. In 1924 the Longacre Theatre staged the small musical ''Moonlight'', with a score by Conrad and

William B. Friedlander William Barr Friedlander (12 January 1884 – January 1968) was an American songwriter and theater producer who staged many Broadway shows in the 1920s and 1930s. Most of them were musical comedies. Early successes included ''Moonlight'' (1924) a ...

. The next year Conrad and Friedlander's ''Mercenary Mary'' was presented at the Longacre. In 1929, Conrad moved to Hollywood after losing all of his money on unsuccessful shows. There he worked on films such as: ''Fox Movietone Follies'', ''Palmy Days'', '' The Gay Divorcee'' and ''Here’s to Romance''. Conrad received the first

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

for Best Song for '' The Continental'' in 1934 along with collaborator Herb Magidson. He died four years later in

Van Nuys Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1909, ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

. His spouse was actress

Francine Larrimore Francine Larrimore (born Francine La Remee, August 22, 1898 – March 7, 1975) was a French-born American stage and screen actress. Biography Born in Verdun, France, Larrimore came to the United States when a child. She was educated in New ...

. He died in

Van Nuys, California Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1909 ...

, aged 47. Conrad was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

Notes

External links

* * *
Sheet Music for "Margie"
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co., 1920.
Con Conrad recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Conrad, Con 1891 births 1938 deaths Songwriters from New York (state) Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters 20th-century American musicians Record producers from New York (state)