Herman Hupfeld

Herman Hupfeld (February 1, 1894 – June 8, 1951) was an American songwriter, whose most notable composition was the lyrics and music of "As Time Goes By".

Life and career Hupfeld was born in Montclair, New Jersey, the son of Fredericka (Rader), a church organist, and Charles Ludwig Hupfeld. He was sent to study the violin in Germany at the age of nine. Returning to the United States, he graduated from Montclair High School in 1915 and enlisted in the Navy during World War I. Following the war, he commenced a songwriting career. He entertained camps and hospitals during World War II.

Hupfeld never married, and lived with his mother in Montclair until his death from a stroke in 1951 at the age of 57. He was buried at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Montclair, New Jersey. His mother died six years later, aged 90. While Hupfeld was alive, their house was often visited by people from the world of entertainment, including Bing Crosby and Mae West. Crosby recorded "As Time Goes By" in 1943. In 1931, the song was a modest hit, with versions issued on Victor, Columbia, Brunswick and the dime store labels.

The song was featured in the unproduced play Everybody Comes To Rick's, the basis for the Casablanca story and script. Against the wishes of Max Steiner, who wrote the music for the film, it was decided to feature the song in the 1942 film. It has been well documented that the producers considered dropping the song in post-production but, since Ingrid Bergman had been given the part of Maria in Paramount's For Whom the Bell Tolls and had cut her hair for the part, it would not have been possible to reshoot her scenes in which the song was performed or to meet her request that Sam (Dooley Wilson) play a different song.