Richard A. Whiting

Richard Armstrong Whiting (November 12, 1891 – February 19, 1938) was an American composer of popular songs, including the standards "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" and "On the Good Ship Lollipop". He also wrote lyrics occasionally, and film scores most notably for the standard "She's Funny That Way".

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936 for "When Did You Leave Heaven" from the film Sing, Baby Sing.

Early life and education Whiting was born in Peoria, Illinois, United States, into a musical family. His father, Frank Whiting, was a real estate agent and gifted violinist; his mother Blossom was a piano teacher. Together they instilled a love of music in their son and worked towards nurturing his natural gift of piano playing. He attended the Harvard Military School in Los Angeles. Upon his graduation, Whiting started a vaudeville act with his college friend Marshall Neilan. The pair briefly toured the United States writing songs, singing, and playing the piano; although neither one had the stage presence or singing talent to become full-time performers. They broke up the duo and went their separate ways: Neilan to Hollywood, where he would go on to be a successful film director and actor, and Whiting to Detroit to try to jump-start a career as a professional songwriter. In 1913, Whiting began his career as a song plugger for Jerome H. Remick publishing company. Within a year he was the manager of the Detroit office, being paid US$25 per week. As an occasional talent scout, Whiting nurtured the careers of several songwriters from the day, most notably George Gershwin; Whiting heard Gershwin playing one day and gave him a job as a song plugger for Remick company. This act of kindness resulted in a lifelong friendship between the two powerhouse composers. To supplement his income at the time, Whiting worked with a local hotel's Hawaiian band, playing piano in light blackface, earning him an extra $10 a week.

Career In 1914, Whiting had his first two hit songs: "I Wonder Where My Lovin' Man Has Gone" and "It's Tulip Time in Holland." 1917 "Bravest Heart of All". L: Raymond Egan "It's Tulip Time in Holland" "Love Is on the Air Tonight" "Miss Brown to You" "My Future Just Passed" "My Ideal" (music by Whiting and Newell Chase, words by Leo Robin) "On the Good Ship Lollipop" "Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride" "Sentimental and Melancholy" (words by Johnny Mercer) "She's Funny That Way" (words only; music by Neil Moret) "Silhouetted in the Moonlight" "Sleepy Time Gal" (Music by Ange Lorenzo & Richard Whiting, lyrics by Joseph R. Alden & Raymond B. Egan) "The Japanese Sandman" "They Made It Twice as Nice as Paradise" "Till We Meet Again" "Too Marvelous for Words" (words by Johnny Mercer) "When Did You Leave Heaven?" "Where the Black-Eyed Susans Grow" "Where the Morning Glories Grow" "You're an Old Smoothie" "You've Got Something There" "Ukulele Lady"

Recordings Frank Sinatra recorded Whiting's "Too Marvelous for Words" on his album Songs for Swingin' Lovers!. Sinatra also recorded Whiting's "She's Funny That Way" on his album Nice 'n' Easy, and other songs such as "My Ideal".

Tony Bennett recorded many of Whiting's songs, such as "My Ideal" on his album Here's to the Ladies, "True Blue Lou" and "She's Funny That Way."

Margaret Whiting (his daughter) recorded and made famous several Whiting hits including "Guilty", "Too Marvelous for Words" and "Ain't We Got Fun?"

Other notable artists to record Whiting songs:

Louis Armstrong Tony Bennett Chet Baker Josephine Baker Nora Bayes The Boswell Sisters Al Bowlly Dave Brubeck Henry Burr Cab Calloway Cher Shirley Horn Maurice Chevalier Eric Clapton Rosemary Clooney Nat King Cole John Coltrane Perry Como Ray Conniff Bing Crosby Doris Day Bobby Darin Vaughn De Leath Kenny Dorham Tommy Dorsey Eddy Duchin Bob Dylan Eliane Elias Ruth Etting Alice Faye Michael Feinstein Ella Fitzgerald Helen Forrest Judy Garland George Gershwin Stan Getz Benny Goodman Eydie Gormé Annette Hanshaw Coleman Hawkins Billie Holiday Bob Hope J.J. Johnson Al Jolson Isham Jones Dave Koz Diana Krall Frances Langford Abbe Lane Peggy Lee Liberace Jeanette MacDonald Fred MacMurray Wynton Marsalis Dean Martin Mary Martin Tony Martin Carmen McRae Ethel Merman Bette Midler Glenn Miller Wendy Moten Michael Nesmith Anita O'Day Renee Olstead Joe Pass Oscar Peterson Dick Powell Diana Ross Art Tatum Shirley Temple Artie Shaw Bobby Short Frank Sinatra Jo Stafford Kay Starr Rod Stewart Tiny Tim Rudy Vallee Fats Waller Fred Waring Ian Whitcomb Paul Whiteman Margaret Whiting Andy Williams Joe Williams Carol Woods Lester Young

Modern day usage In 2006, the film A Good Year starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard featured the song "Breezin' Along with the Breeze" with music by Whiting and lyrics by Haven Gillespie and Seymour Simons

In 2009, Renee Olstead used the song "Ain't We Got Fun" written by Whiting, Raymond B. Egan and Gus Kahn for her album Skylark

In 2010, Boardwalk Empire used the music from Whiting's "The Japanese Sandman" in the first five episodes of the show. A version with lyrics by Raymond B. Egan appeared in the show on October 24, 2010.

In 2010, Enrique Iglesias used a segment of "On the Good Ship Lollipop" written by Whiting and Sidney Clare for Bright Eyes in his YouTube video for the song "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)"

In 2011, Diet Coke used Whiting's music to the song "Hooray for Hollywood" in their Oscar commercial which played nationwide in movie theaters.