Sammy Fain | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | Samuel E. Feinberg (1902-06-17)June 17, 1902 New York City, New York, United States |
| Died | December 6, 1989(1989-12-06) (aged 87) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Popular music |
| Occupation(s) | Composer Vocalist Musician |
| Instrument | Piano |
Sammy Fain (bornSamuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an Americancomposer ofpopular music.[1] In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part ofThe Great American Songbook, and toBroadway theatre.[2]
Sammy Fain was born inNew York City, to a family that was deeply rooted in the world of show business.[2] His uncle, for instance, Willie Howard, was a Vaudeville performer.[2] As a young man, Fain taught himself to play the piano.[2] Although he couldn't read music well, he had a natural talent for coming up with memorable melodies in the spur of the moment. In 1925, he composed his first piece: "Nobody Knows What a Red-headed Mama Can Do."[2]
Until 1942, Fain worked extensively in collaboration withIrving Kahal.[3] In the late 1920s, they created works including "Wedding Bells are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine" and "Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella." Fain and Kahal also collaborated to write pieces for the playRight This Way, such as "I Can Dream, Can't I?" and "I'll Be Seeing You." The latter was especially popular duringWWII, as it perfectly reflected the feelings of many American wives whose husbands were off fighting.
Fain also composed music for more than 30 films in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.[4] He was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Original Song ten times.[3] Of those ten nominations, two of the pieces were selected as winning works: "Secret Love" fromCalamity Jane won in 1953, and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" won in 1955. Both of these pieces were co-written with lyricistPaul Francis Webster, another long-time collaborator.[3] Fain also contributed to the song scores for theWalt Disney animated filmsAlice in Wonderland,Peter Pan, andThe Rescuers (the latter, soon to be his last effort, also earned him another Oscar nomination).[1][5][6][7]
In 1972, he was inducted intoThe Songwriters Hall of Fame.[1][8]
Fain died from a heart attack inLos Angeles, California and was interred atCedar Park Cemetery, inEmerson, New Jersey.[1]
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