Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AHLERT, Fred

(b 19 Sep. 1892, NYC; d 20 Oct. '53, NYC) Composer. Trained as lawyer, took job with music publisher; worked as arranger, wrote special material for vaudeville performers and Fred Waring's Glee Club, began writing some of the best Tin Pan Alley (non-show) songs of the period. 'I'll Get By' '28 written with Roy Turk; has featured in at least six films incl. Follow The Boys ('44, with Dinah Shore) and I'll Get By ('50, with June Haver); also made UK top 20 twice (Connie Francis '58, Shirley Bassey '61). 'Mean To Me' '29, also with Turk, became a standard and was incl. in Ruth Etting biopic ('55, Doris Day). 'Walkin' My Baby Back Home' ('31, with Turk and Harry Richman) was Johnny Ray hit in '52 (both UK and USA); 'Where The Blue Of The Night (Meets The Gold Of The Day)' '31, with Turk (it became Bing Crosby's theme). Others: 'I Don't Know Why' '31, 'Love, You Funny Thing' '32, 'The Moon Was Yellow' '34, 'I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter' (hit for Fats Waller '36, Billy Williams Quartet '57).