Dick Manning (born Samuel Medoff (Самуил Медов), June 12, 1912 – April 11, 1991) was a Russian-American songwriter, best known for his many collaborations with

Al Hoffman Al Hoffman (September 25, 1902 – July 21, 1960) was an American song composer. He was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number-one hits through each decade, many of wh ...

. Manning composed the first full-length musical to be broadcast on television. ''The Boys From Boise'' aired on the DuMont Television Network in 1944.

Early years

Manning was born in

Gomel Gomel (, ) or Homyel (, ) is a city in south-eastern Belarus. It serves as the administrative centre of Gomel Region and Gomel District, though it is administratively separated from the district. As of 2025, it is the List of cities and largest ...

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

, to a

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

family, and came to the United States with his family when he was six years old. He studied at the

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named afte ...

. Manning changed his name from Medoff in 1948, although he continued also to play and record in

Yiddish Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...

under his birth name.

Yiddish swing

In the early 1940s, he had a radio show on WHN radio in New York called ''Sam Medoff and His Yiddish Swing Orchestra''; he performed with his band, "The Yiddish Swingtet". Manning and the band were also regulars on "Yiddish Melodies in Swing", which was also broadcast on WHN. The 15 minute weekly radio show, which blended traditional Yiddish folk music with swing and jazz, got its start on the station in 1938. Medoff and the Swingtet were hired to give a new twist to the traditional songs, as well as introduce new popular songs performed in Yiddish.

The Barry Sisters Minnie Bagelman (April 6, 1923 – October 31, 1976) and Clara Bagelman (October 17, 1920 – November 22, 2014),NOTE: Claire Barry was not born in 1923, the year that had previously been cited as her year of birth, but in 1920, as all notices ...

(Claire and Merna) were the vocalists for the program. The radio show was originally done live at the Lowes State Theatre every Sunday at 1PM; it aired until 1955. Medoff also played piano and organ for Yiddish crooner Seymour Rexite's radio show.

Songwriting and composing

Manning was the co-writer of many popular songs, among them: "Takes Two to Tango", "Fascination", " Hot Diggity" and " Papa Loves Mambo". They were recorded by artists such as

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor, and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987 ...

Sammy Kaye Sammy Kaye (born Samuel Zarnocay Jr.; March 13, 1910 – June 2, 1987) was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era. The expression springs fr ...

, and

Kate Smith Kathryn Elizabeth Smith (May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986) was an American contralto. Referred to as The First Lady of Radio, Smith became well known for her renditions of "God Bless America" and "When the Moon Comes over the Mountain". She began ...

. Manning's songs have been published in 27 languages. In 1956, Manning shared a late-night subway ride with Perry Como's music publisher, Mickey Glass. As the two men talked, Glass mentioned a need for a new novelty song for Como. Manning said he had just made a

demo recording A demo (shortened from "demonstration") is a song or group of songs typically recorded for limited circulation or for reference use, rather than for general public release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas in a fixed for ...

of something like that which had yet to be heard by anyone else. Glass arranged to hear Manning's demo the next day; Como's recording of "Hot Diggity" was the result of that chance meeting of Manning and Glass. Manning also composed ''The Boys From Boise,'' which was the story of a troupe of show girls who were stranded on an Idaho ranch. The girls take jobs as cowgirls on the ranch in an effort to raise enough money to return home. This was the first full-length television musical, and was presented on the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being first overall in ...

in 1944. The television presentation of the musical was sponsored by ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

'' magazine. Manning appeared earlier in that year on DuMont's ''Key-Bored Televisual Presentations'' as a pianist. Manning also was an arranger and vocal coach, and wrote radio jingles. Manning, the father of two daughters and a son, died of diabetes-related complications in

Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...

on April 11, 1991.

Published songs

Songs written by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning

*" Allegheny Moon" (1956) *" Dennis the Menace" (1960) *" Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea" (1954) *" Hawaiian Wedding Song" (1958-English version) *" Hot Diggity" (1956) *" I Can't Tell a Waltz from a Tango" (1954) *"I Love Her, That's Why!" (for

George Burns George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film, and television. His arched eyeb ...

and

Gracie Allen Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen (July 26, 1895 – August 27, 1964) was an American vaudevillian, singer, actress, and comedian who became internationally famous as the zany partner and comic foil of husband George Burns, her straight man, ap ...

) (1955) *" Mama, Teach Me to Dance" (1956) *" Mi Casa, Su Casa (My House Is Your House)" (1957) *" Moon Talk" (1958) *" O Dio Mio" (1960) *" Takes Two to Tango" (1952)

Songs written by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning and another collaborator

*" Are You Really Mine?" (1958) (with Mark Markwell) *" Make Me a Miracle" (1958) (with Mark Markwell) *" Oh-Oh, I'm Falling in Love Again" (1958) (with Mark Markwell) *" Papa Loves Mambo" (1954) (with Bix Reichner) *" Secretly" (1958) (with Mark Markwell)

Other songs

*" Jilted" (with Robert Colby) *" Fascination" (lyrics) *" Like I Do" *"Not I" (with Sammy Gallop) *"Walkin' With My Honey" (with Buddy Kaye) *"Start the Day with a Song" (with Buddy Kaye) *"

Morning Side of the Mountain Morning is either the period from sunrise to noon, or the period from midnight to noon. In the first definition it is preceded by the twilight period of dawn, and there are no exact times for when morning begins (also true of evening and night) b ...

Work on Broadway

*''The Fifth Season'' (1975) -

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

and

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

References

External links

*
Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
at

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Sam Medoff and the Yiddish Swingtet
at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim {{DEFAULTSORT:Manning, Dick 1912 births 1991 deaths People from Gomel Orchestra leaders Songwriters from New York (state) Jewish American songwriters American male conductors (music) Musicians from New York City Juilliard School alumni 20th-century American conductors (music) Classical musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American Jews American male songwriters Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States American people of Russian-Jewish descent 20th-century American songwriters