|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSPIELMANN, Fritz(b 20 Nov. '06, Vienna; d 21 March '97) Songwriter. Encouraged by his father he played piano and began composing; at 12 he was studying at the Music Academy of Vienna, intending to become a concert pianist, but had to make a living in cabaret. One of his childhood compositions, "One Finger Melody', later became a hit by Frank Sinatra '50 (English words by Al Hoffman and Kermit Goell); another Viennese hit (in a time of political and economic instability) was "Why does the meat in the noodle casserole play hide and seek?' Forced out of Austria by the Nazis, he learned English quickly and made a successful new career, calling himself Fred. Bing Crosby recorded "Shepherd Serenade' '41; his stage shows incl. A Lady Says Yes '45, The Stingiest Man In Town '78 (with Walter Matthau as Scrooge). He wrote about 900 songs incl. "It Only Hurts For A Little While' (words by Mack David; a hit for the Ames Bros '56, revived by Margo Smith '78), "Paper Roses' (word by Janice Torre; several recordings '60 incl. Anita Bryant; revived '73 by Marie Osmond). Many of his songs were interpolated into films; "You Won't Forget Me' from Joan Crawford film Torch Song '53 (words by Goell) was revived by Shirley Horn, who likes to watch old movies on TV; it became the title track of one of her most successful albums '91. He also wrote (with Torre) "Merry Christmas' for Judy Garland film In The Good Old Summertime '49, "I Don't Want To' for Elvis Presley's Girls! Girls! Girls! '62 etc. |