Over his lifetime, Paul wrote a huge number of songs, all of them successes. It is estimated that he had a fortune of over a half million dollars, a not inconsiderable amount in the late 1800's. He was a lavish entertainer, living in Chicago's best hotels, courting beautiful women, entertaining, and ever ready to give a 'handout' to an old friend, who might not be doing too well. In the end, he lost his entire fortune.
Paul Dresser's songs truly epitomize the 'Gay Nineties'. Between 1890 and 1895, he wrote:
Between 1895 and 1900:
From 1900 on, Dresser wrote:
In 1901, Dresser went into a partnership with his music publishers. The firm was called Howley and Haviland, and Dresser. Regretfully, the firm went bankrupt in 1903. Dresser had no funds, having squandered his money. All of the friends whom he had entertained now avoided him. He did find it in himself to write one more 'hit', "My Gal Sal", (here beautifully played by Mr. Irwin Schwarz). He was convinced that this song would restore his wealth, but he was now without funds to promote it after it's publication in 1905.
In 1906, he died in poverty, in his sister's home in Brooklyn, N.Y., as a result of a heart attack. As he had foreseen, "My Gal Sal" was a huge hit, selling millions of copies, and earning a fortune in royalties. The song is still popular today in the late 1990's, and may very well still be popular
in the year 2005 and beyond.
Brief Chronology:
Dreyer who was elected to the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, died in 1967, at
age 73.
His family fled Russia and went to Zurich, where Al was born in 1891, and then came to America and settled in Philadelphia in 1893. His father was a medical doctor while his mother was a dedicated science teacher. Neither wanted Al to pursue a career in music. By age 14, the young Dubin was 'cutting' his classes at school to see Broadway shows, and to hang about West 28th Street, the 'Tin Pan Alley' district, where he would try to sell special material to vaudeville entertainers. He became associated with the Witmark music company, and worked with them for many years. Dubin chose to complete his high school at a private institution, Perkiomen Seminary, -located 40 miles from his home and hardly appropriate for a Jew. He excelled in athletics; a captain of the football team, track and basketball star His love of Alcohol, Girls, and nights out often resulted in suspensions. Just a few days before graduation, he was expelled from the Seminary.
These acts of irresponsibility characterized Dubin's life. He was a heavy drinker and a glutton. At times, he packed 300 pounds into his 5 foot 9 inch frame. His daughter has written that at one dinner, after completing a very hearty meal, he proceeded to regurgitate so that he could partake of another such meal.
He was 25 years old when his first successful song "Twas Only an Irishman's Dream" was published in 1916. But, he had published two inconsequential songs in 1909. During WW1, he sang in an overseas entertainment unit. After the war, he worked as a bartender while trying to find fame as a lyricist.
In 1925, he had his first big hit, "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You" sung by Gertrude Lawrence in 'Charlot's Revue'. His daughter has said that inspiration for the title was the line from an Omar Khayyam's poem "A Loaf of Bread, A Jug of Wine, and Thou Beside Me in the Dessert".
By 1926, he was writing some music to promote the silent films. In 1929, Warner Bros signed him to write for their film, 'Gold Diggers of Broadway'. Dubin went on to write the lyrics for all of the five 'Gold Diggers' that the Warner Brothers Studios released.
Dubin's daughter has said that in 1927, Dubin penned a lyric, for a song he called "Among My Souvenirs", on the back of a Gas Bill. She recalled that "He was in debt, and needed quick cash to get a small stake in a poker game, and sold that lyric to Edgar Leslie for $25....". Dubin's name never appeared on the lyric. The credits on the published song read "Words by Edgar Leslie and music by Horatio Nichols". (Nichols was a pseudonym for an English songwriter/publisher.) This tune was introduced first in England by the Jack Hylton Orchestra, and later in the U.S. by Paul Whiteman. His daughter recalls that Al sold many of his lyrics in the same way for $5 to $50 dollars.
Joe Burke was his collaborator on the first films. In 1932, Warner's signed
Harry Warren. Dubin and Warren provided Warner's with more than 60 hit
songs over the nedxt 6 years.
In 1938, the Warren and Dubin partnership ended. ('Gold Diggers in Paris' and 'Garden of the Moon' were their last two films.) Dubin returned to Broadway where he collaborated with Jimmy McHugh. In 1939, he added lyrics to Victor Herbert's instrumental "Indian Summer". During WW2, he worked with producer Sol Lesser on the screen musical Stage Door Canteen.
Brief Chronology of his songs:
In 1932, Warner's hired composer Harry Warren and teamed him with Al Dubin. The team went on to provide the Warner Brothers with over 60 huge hit songs in just the six following years.
The Dubin and Warren partnership ended after 'Gold Diggers of Paris'. Al's association with the Warner Brothers also ended, and he returned to Broadway, where he collaborated with composer Jimmy McHugh and several musical revues.
1939 Dubin added the lyrics to Victor Herbert's song "Indian Summer". It was on the Hit Parade Radio Show for 14 weeks.
Al was now working with composer Jimmy McHugh.
1941 "The Anniversary Waltz"
Al Dubin died at age 52, in February 1945, when he succombed to Barbiturate Poisoning and Pneumonia. The Jewish boy from Philadelphia received the last rites of the Catholic church, for he had converted when he married Helene McClay, a blond showgirl. He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
Paul Dresser
b. April 24, 1857 Terre Haute, IN. USA, d. Jan. 30, 1906, Brooklyn, N.Y., USA
né: Paul Dreiser, the older brother of novelist Theodore Dreiser.
Even as a child, Paul was only interested in music, even though his father wanted him to be a priest. In 1873, at age 16, he ran away from home and joined a medicine show, changing his name to Dresser. A year later, he joined a traveling troupe doing one night shows. He was doing a comic routine, but his true love was music, and around this time, a small Indiana company published his first song "Wide WIngs", and a Chicago outfit published the the Paul Dresser Songster.
"Take a Seat, Old Lady"
"Ev'ry Year"
"We Were Sweethearts for Many Years"
"Jean"
"I Was Looking For My Boy"
"I Wonder If She'll Ever Come Back To Me"
"I Wish That You Were Here Tonight"
"He Fought For A Cause He Thought Was Right"
"He Brought Home Another"
"Just Tell Them That You Saw Me", based on the true tale of a woman who had been destroyed by an unwise love affair.
"A Dream of my Boyhood Days"
"You're Goin' Far Away Lad"
"Don't Tell Her That You Love Her"
"Wish You Were Here Tonight"
"If You See My Sweetheart"
"Come Tell Me What's Your Answer"
"Every Night There's A Light"
"The Old Flame Flickers"
"I Wonder Why"
"The Path That Leads The Other Way"
"The Curse of the Dreamer". This song, originally called "The Curse", was
filled with bitterness and hatred, due to Paul's unhappy marriage to
May Howard, the burlesque queen. He withdrew it from publication, and
re-wrote it with a happy ending.
"On The Banks Of The Wabash", (589 kb): Dresser's 1899 hit, sung here by Henry Burr in 1916
perhaps his greatest song, it is now the official state song of Indiana.
"I'de Still Believe You True"
"I Just Want to go Back and Start the Whole Thing Over"
"Where Are the Friends of Other Days"
"She Went To The City"
"Way Down in Old Indiana"
"When I'm Away from You, Dear"
"The Day That Grew Colder"
Dave Dreyer
b. Sept. 22, 1894, Brooklyn, NY, USA, d. 1967, New York, NY, USA.
Overview
Most active during the 1920's and 1930's, Dave was a typical Tin Pan Alley composer, writing songs on demand. He started his career as a staff pianist and song plugger for various New York City music publishing companies. Later, he went on the vaudeville circuits as accompanist to stars such as Al Jolson, Frank Fay and Sophie Tucker. As is typical of all Tin Pan Alley musicians, he collaborated with many different lyricists.
1925 "Cecilia"
1927 "Me and My Shadow,"
1928 "Back in Your Own Backyard"
"There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder", Billy Rose lyric.
"Golden Gate", From Picture 'The Singing Fool' with Al Jolson.
1930 "I'm Following You", Ballard MacDonald lyric. From the picture 'It's A Great Life'.
19?? "I'm Keeping Company"
1931 "Wabash Moon", Billy McKenny and Morton Downey lyrics.
Al Dubin
b. June 10, 1891, Zurich, Switzerland, d. Feb. 11, 1945, New York, N. Y, USA..
Overview
Al Dubin is mostly remembered today as part of the Dubin and Warren team. One of our most prolific lyricists, began his career in 1917 and produced hit lyrics until his death. While his chief collaborator was Harry Warren, he also wrote lyrics for several other composers, including Jimmy McHugh.
1929 For Film, 'Gold Diggers of Broadway', the songs,
"Tip Toe Thru the Tulips With Me", Joe Burke music.
"Painting the Clouds With Sunshine."
1933 Film, 'Forty Second Street', stars Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler.
The songs, (Harry Warren music)
"Forty Second Street"
"Shuffle Off To Buffalo"
"You're Getting to be a Habit With Me"
"Young and Healthy".
1933 For Film, 'Footlight Parade', Jimmy Cagney starred.
"Shanhai Lil". Jimmy Cagney sang it.
"Honeymoon Hotel". Dick Powell sang it.
1933 For Film, 'Gold Diggers of 1933',
"Remember My Forgotten Man"
"We're In The Money"
"I've Got to Sing a Torch Song"
"Pettin' in the Park"
1934 For Film, 'Moulin Rouge'
"The Boulevard of Broken Dreams"
1934 For Film, 'Twenty Million Sweethearts,
"I'll String Along With You"
1934 For Film, 'Dames",
"I Only Have Eyes For You"
1935 For Film, 'Gold Diggers of 1935',
"Lullaby of Broadway". An Academy Award 'Best Song'. Winifred Shaw's vocalizing was sensational.
1935 For Film, 'Go Into Your Dance', the songs,
"She's a Latin From Manhattan"
"About a Quarter to Nine"
1935 For Film, 'Broadway Gondolier,
"Lulu's Back in Town"
"Flagenheim's Odorless Cheese"
1936 For Film, 'Cain and Mabel'
"I'll Sing You A Thousand Love Songs". No 1 on Hit Parade.
1937 For Film, 'Gold Diggers of 1937'
"With Plenty of Money and You". No 1 on Hit Parade Show.
1937 For Film, 'Melody for Two',
"September in the Rain". No 1 on Hit Parade Show.
1937 For film, 'Mr Dodd Takes the Air', the song,
"Remember Me". No 1 on Hit Parade Show.
1938 For Film, 'Gold Diggers in Paris'. (His last work with Harry Warren.)
"The Latin Quarter"
"A Stranger in Paree"
1940 For Film, 'The Sante Fe Trail'
"Along the Sante Fe Trail"
1943 For Film, 'Stage Door Canteen"
"We Mustn't Say Goodbye"
"She's a Bombshell from Brooklyn"
"American Boy"
1945 "Feudin' and Fightin'," written in '45, but popular in 1947.
(Above quotes from: 'Lullaby of Broadway: Life and Times of Al Dubin',
Patricia Dubin McGuire. Citadel Press, 1983)