Harry Akst

Harry Akst (August 15, 1894 – March 31, 1963) was an American songwriter, who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson.

Life and career Akst was born in New York, United States.

For four years, he worked for Bayes. Then in 1916, he enlisted in the army and was at Camp Upton when he met Irving Berlin (in 1921 they would write "Home Again Blues"). His most notable success came with the song he wrote in 1925 with Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young: "Dinah". It would go on to multiple hit recordings by Bing Crosby, The Boswell Sisters, Ethel Waters, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, The Mills Brothers, Sam Donahue, and Ted Lewis.

His movie scores include Bulldog Drummond, The Squall, This Is Heaven, On with the Show, Broadway Babies, The Mississippi Gambler, No, No, Nanette, Song of the West, Song of the Flame, Leathernecking, Palmy Days, The Kid from Spain, Dinah, Professional Sweetheart, Glamour, Stand Up and Cheer!, Change of Heart, The Silver Streak, Paddy O'Day, Star for a Night, Fight for Your Lady, Up the River, Battle of Broadway, Island in the Sky, Harvest Melody, Rosie the Riveter and This Time for Keeps. "I'd Rather Be With You" (1935), with Elsa Maxwell and Lew Brown (from Casino de Paree) "This Is Love" (1935), with lyrics by Lew Brown (in film Her First Beau) "Everybody Swing" (1936), with Sidney Clare "Don't Throw Kisses" (1937), with Sidney Clare (For Big Town Girl) "Blue is the Evening" (1938) with Sidney Clare (For Rascals) "The Egg and I" (1947) music by Harry Ruby, lyrics by Bert Kalmar, Al Jolson, and Harry Akst "No Sad Songs For Me" (1950), with Al Jolson

Original works for Broadway Artists and Models of 1927 (1927) - revue, co-composed with Maurie Rubens, lyrics by J. Keirn Brennan, Benny Davis, Ted Lewis, and Jack Osterman Calling All Stars (1934) - revue, lyrics by Lew Brown

Other Broadway credits Ladies First (1918), musical, Music by A. Baldwin Sloane, Book by Harry B. Smith, Lyrics by Harry B. Smith with additional music by Nora Bayes, Seymour Simons, George Gershwin, Harry Clarke and Akst with additional lyrics by Irving Fisher, Simons, Ira Gershwin, Schuyler Greene, and Harry Clarke, also featuring songs by James Brockmann and James Kendl. Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic (1920), revue, Book by Ballard MacDonald, Music by Harry Carroll, with additional music by Max Hoffmann, Irving Berlin, Akst, and Dave Stamper. Music Box Revue (1921), revue, Musical Supervisor/Under the Personal Direction of Swingin' The Dream (1939), musical/variety, song "Dinah" At Home With Ethel Waters (1953), revue, songs "Am I Blue?" and "Dinah" John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953), revue, featuring songs by Harry Akst - Additional Mr. Wonderful (1956),