Jimmy McHugh | |
|---|---|
 McHugh in 1921 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | James Francis McHugh (1894-07-10)July 10, 1894 Boston,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 23, 1969(1969-05-23) (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Songwriter |
James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969)[1] was an Americancomposer. One of the most prolificsongwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, includingChet Baker,June Christy,Bing Crosby, Marlene Dietrich,Deanna Durbin,Ella Fitzgerald,Judy Garland,Adelaide Hall,Billie Holiday,Beverly Kenney,Bill Kenny,The Everly Brothers,Peggy Lee,Carmen Miranda,Nina Simone,Frank Sinatra, andDinah Washington.
McHugh began his career in his hometown ofBoston,Massachusetts, United States,[1] where he published about a dozen songs with local publishers. His first success was with theWorld War I song "Keep the Love-Light Burning in the Window Till the Boys Come Marching Home", and this also came near the start of a decade-long collaboration with lyricistJack Caddigan. After struggling in a variety of jobs, including rehearsal pianist for theBoston Opera House and pianist-song plugger forIrving Berlin's publishing company,[1] in 1921, at the age of 26, McHugh relocated toNew York City.[2] Eventually finding employment as a professional manager with the music publisher Jack Mills Inc., it was there that McHugh published his first real hit, "Emaline", and briefly teamed up withIrving Mills as The Hotsy Totsy Boys to write the hit song "Everything Is Hotsy Totsy Now".
This songwriting partnership marked another of McHugh's many collaborations, among themTed Koehler ("I'm Shooting High"),Al Dubin ("South American Way") andHarold Adamson ("It's a Most Unusual Day"). As impressive as these master lyricists were, perhaps McHugh's best symbiotic musical relationship was with the school teacher and poetDorothy Fields. Since he had written material for many of Harlem's Cotton Club revues, it would be no coincidence that their first combined success would be the score for the all-black Broadway musical,Blackbirds of 1928,[1][3][4] starringAdelaide Hall andBill Bojangles Robinson, which jump-started the fledgling duo's career with the songs "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "Diga Diga Doo", and "I Must Have That Man".[5][6]
Other hits written for the stage were soon to follow, including 1930's "On the Sunny Side of the Street" forLew Leslie'sInternational Revue, which also contained the favorite "Exactly Like You";[1] "Blue Again" forThe Vanderbilt Revue; and in 1932, "Don't Blame Me", which was featured in the Chicago revueClowns In Clover.[1] Some authors say thatFats Waller was the composer of "On the Sunny Side of the Street," but sold the rights to the song.[7]
McHugh and Fields contributed title songs for films including "Cuban Love Song", "Dinner at Eight" and "Hooray for Love", as well as "I Feel a Song Comin' On" and "I'm in the Mood for Love" from 1935'sEvery Night at Eight.[1] In the artistically fruitful years after they first collaborated in 1930, McHugh and Fields wrote over 30 songs for the film world.[1] Fields and McHugh finally parted company in 1935.[8] McHugh's longest songwriting partner was Harold Adamson. Adamson provided lyrics to McHugh's compositions. Such hits as "Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer" found its way intoBartlett's Familiar Quotations.[1]
For the 1948 filmA Date with Judy, he composed "It's a Most Unusual Day" forJane Powell. It became the young singer and actress's signature tune.
McHugh was the manager ofMamie Van Doren during the early part of her career. Van Doren stated in her autobiography that she was unable to get signed to Paramount due to Louella Parsons being jealous of McHugh and Van Doren. However, McHugh was able to get Van Doren signed to Universal in 1953.
McHugh died in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 74.[9]
Jimmy McHugh was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.[10]
A medley of his songs were included in the 1979Broadway showSugar Babies, starringAnn Miller andMickey Rooney. The songs included were "I Can't Give You Anything but Love", "I'm Shooting High", "Roll Your Blues Away" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street".
