Robert Allen Deitcher (February 5, 1927 – October 1, 2000) was an American

pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...

and an arranger and writer of music for popular

song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

Biography

Allen was born 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 in

Troy, New York Troy is a city in and the county seat of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. It is located on the western edge of the county, on the eastern bank of the Hudson River just northeast of the capital city of Albany, New York, Albany. At the ...

and had 4 children: a son, Gordon, and 3 daughters, Pamela, Diana, and Katie. He was an accompanist for

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 ...

, Peter Lind Hayes, and

Arthur Godfrey Arthur Morton Godfrey (August 31, 1903 – March 16, 1983) was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer. At the peak of his success, in the early to mid-1950s, Godfrey was heard on radio and seen on television up to six days ...

. Many of his compositions were collaborations with

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 ...

Al Stillman Al Stillman ''(né'' Albert Irving Silverman; 26 June 1901 Manhattan, New York City, New York – 17 February 1979 Manhattan, New York City, New York) was an American lyricist. Biography Al Stillman was born as Albert Irving Silverman to American ...

. Allen lived in

New Rochelle, New York New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtow ...

from 1963, much of his professional life. Three of his most famous songs were: " (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"," Everybody Loves a Lover" and " Chances Are".Music Makers Of New Rochelle
/ref> Robert Allen died in Quogue, New York of

colon cancer Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...

at the age of 73.

Songs written by Robert Allen

Lyrics by Al Stillman

Perry Como hits

*" Noodlin' Rag" (1952) *" Sweetheart's Holiday" (1952) *" To Know You (Is to Love You)" (1952, redone in 1959) *" You Are Never Far Away (From Me)" (1952, redone in 1958) *" Home for the Holidays" (1954) *" My One and Only Heart" (1953) *" You Alone (Solo Tu)" (1953, redone in 1961) *" Door of Dreams" (1955)

Four Lads hits

*" Enchanted Island" (1958) *" Moments to Remember" (1955) *" No, Not Much" (1956) *" There's Only One of You (1958) *" Who Needs You?" (1956)

Johnny Mathis hits

*" Chances Are" (1957) *" It's Not for Me to Say" (1957) *" Teacher, Teacher" (1958)

Other hits

*" Al's Place" a hit for

Al Hirt Alois Maxwell "Al" Hirt (November 7, 1922 – April 27, 1999) was an American trumpeter and bandleader. He is best remembered for his million-selling recordings of "Java (instrumental), Java" and the accompanying album ''Honey in the Horn (album ...

*" If Dreams Came True" (a hit for

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, television personality, radio host and philanthropist. He sold nearly 50 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and has acted in many films. Boone ...

)

With Richard Adler

*" Everybody Loves a Lover" (a hit for

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...

in 1958 and

The Shirelles The Shirelles were an American girl group formed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1957. They consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens (later Shirley Alston Reeves), Doris Coley (later Doris Kenner-Jackson), Addie "Micki" Harris (later Addie Harris McF ...

in 1963)

Others

*" War Eagle" (1954 and 1955) the

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...

fight song A fight song is a rousing short song associated with a sports team. The term is most common in the United States and Canada. In Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand, these songs are called the team anthem, team song, or games song. First associated ...

*" Song for a Summer Night (a hit for Mitch Miller and His Orchestra and Chorus in 1956) *' Bob McGrath from Sesame Street' by Bob McGrath (1970)

References

Sources

External links

Obituary of Robert Allen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Robert American male composers American lyricists Deaths from colorectal cancer in New York (state) Jewish American songwriters 1927 births 2000 deaths Musicians from Troy, New York Musicians from New Rochelle, New York People from Quogue, New York Songwriters from New York (state) 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American Jews American male songwriters 20th-century American songwriters