He was a songwriter born in Minsk, Russia (now Belarus) and was a prolific lyricist, composer, author and drummer. His family immigrated to the US in 1908 and he was educated at Franklyn High School in Seattle.
He led his own band in Seattle and moved to New York in 1928 where he was a drummer in night club orchestras. In 1934 he went to London and composed stage scores for shows such as This’ll Make Me Whistle and songs including “She Shall Have Music” and “Everything Stops for Tea”.
He collaborated with many other celebrated composers including Walter Kent, Sammy Lerner and Ed Nelson and composed songs for films such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and 2000 Leagues under the Sea and they have also been featured in many movies, i.e. “Papa Loves Mambo” in Back to the Future Part II.
In 1984 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is the great-uncle of songwriter/performer Josh Max.
He died of prostate cancer in New York on 21st July 1960 aged 57.
Tony Alamo Recordings
Heartaches (Al Hoffman/John Klenner)
Alamo TSA 22525 A (US)
https://youtu.be/CCqGk-YZpfs
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