Ray Henderson

Ray Henderson (born Raymond Brost; December 1, 1896 – December 31, 1970) was an American songwriter.

Early life Born in Buffalo, New York, Henderson moved to New York City and became a popular composer in Tin Pan Alley.

Then, he worked with other partners. In 1934, he composed the musical Say When with lyricist Ted Koehler.

Henderson also worked as an accompanist to song and dance acts in Vaudeville. His last Broadway show was a resuscitation of the Ziegfeld Follies, one of several put on after Ziegfeld's death.

In popular culture Good News has been adapted for film twice; in 1930 and in 1947.

The 1956 film The Best Things in Life Are Free was a dramatization of the songwriting team of Henderson, Brown and De Sylva; Henderson was played by Dan Dailey. The film included many of the trio's songs.

In 2000, a revue of Henderson's music called It's the Cherries opened in New York City as the inaugural show of the American Composer Series.