Ted L. Koehler (July 14, 1894 – January 17, 1973) was an American

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 ...

. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Life and career

Koehler was born in 1894 in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver, but was attracted to the music business, where he started out as a theater pianist for

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

s. He moved on to write for

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

and

Broadway theatre Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, American and British English spelling differences), many of the List of ...

, and he also produced

nightclub A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...

shows. His most successful collaboration was with the composer

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ' ...

, with whom he wrote many famous songs from the 1920s through the 1940s. In 1929 the duo composed their first well-known song, " Get Happy", and went on to create " Let's Fall in Love", " Stormy Weather", " Sing My Heart" and other hit songs. Throughout the early and mid-1930s they wrote for the Cotton Club, a popular

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

night club, for big band jazz legend

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

and other top performers, as well as for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. Koehler also worked with other composers, including

Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, J ...

, Rube Bloom, Harry Warren and

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatr ...

. Koehler died in 1973 in Santa Monica at the age of 78.

Songs

*" Animal Crackers in My Soup" – music by

Ray Henderson Ray Henderson (born Raymond Brost; December 1, 1896 – December 31, 1970) was an American songwriter. Early life Born in Buffalo, New York, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley. He was one-third of ...

*" As Long as I Live" – music by

*" Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" – music by Harold Arlen *" Don't Worry 'Bout Me" – music by Rube Bloom * "Moon Over Dixie" – music by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra *" Get Happy" – music by Harold Arlen *"I Can't Face the Music" – music by Rube Bloom *" I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" – music by Harold Arlen *" Ill Wind" – music by Harold Arlen *"I'm Shooting High" – music by

*"I've Got My Fingers Crossed" – music by Jimmy McHugh *" I've Got the World on a String" – music by Harold Arlen *" Let's Fall in Love" – music by Harold Arlen *"Minnie the Moocher's Wedding Day" – music by Harold Arlen *"Out in the Cold Again" - music by Rube Blume *" Sing My Heart" – music by Harold Arlen *" Some Sunday Morning" – music by M. K. Jerome and Ray Heindorf *"Spreadin' Rhythm Around" – music by Jimmy McHugh *" Stormy Weather" – music by Harold Arlen *" When the Sun Comes Out" – music by Harold Arlen *" Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" – with Harry Barris and Billy Moll

Work on Broadway

*''Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1932'' (1932) –

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

– co-

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 co-lyricist with

*'' Say When'' (1934) –

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 ...

– lyricist *''Now I Know'' (1944) – Musical – lyricist

References

External links

* *
Ted Koehler recordings
at the Discography of American Historical Recordings. {{DEFAULTSORT:Koehler, Ted 1894 births 1973 deaths Musicians from Washington, D.C. American lyricists Broadway composers and lyricists 20th-century American musicians