Ralph Reader
b. May 25, 1903, Crewkern, Somerset, England, UK, d. May 13, 1982
British Awards: MBE and CBE
Here's a photograph of    Ralph Reader, an orphaned boy who by age 21 had travelled to America and found success working on the Broadway stages as a choreographer and producer. In 1932, upon his return to England, he was asked to produce a charity event for the British Sea Scout Movement. The first show, called "The Gang's All Here", was staged at the Scala Theatre, off Tottenham Court Road, for three nights in October 1932. The Music, Lyrics and production were by a "Holborn Rover". The show was a success and they brought it back the following year as "The Gang Comes Back", and in subsequent years simply as the "Gang Show". Over his lifetime, Reader wrote countless songs and, sketches for the "Gang Show", and the show's signature tune, "Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave" was introduced in the 4th edition of the "Gang Show", and it is now known worldwide. His sketches and production numbers have been seen and heard in a dozen different countries.

For the 1935 performance, the pseudonym name "Holborn Rover" disappeared with the Ralph Reader name appearing in it's place as the creator and driving force behind the Gang Show. 1937 saw the production of a full length feature film called 'The Gang Show'. Interestingly, the Gang Show was the first "amateurs only" show to appear in a Royal Command Performance. The queen honoured the Gang Show with her presence in 1954, 1962, and 1972. 1968 was the first time girls were included in the show. 1974 saw the final performance of The Gang Show as Ralph decided it was time for him to leave the show. Thusly, the amateur theatre came to an end after 42 years. At the time, he was asked about his life and he replied: Its been terrific. Just before his 79th birthday, in May 1982, Ralph died after a short illness.

   Billy Reed
Currently no information available.
Among the Hit songs Billy wrote (in the 1940's) were:
"The Gypsy", a big hit for 'The Inkspots'.
"A Tree In The Meadow", a Margaret Whiting hit vocal.
"I'm Walking Behind You", An Eddie Fisher hit vocal.

   Harry Revel
b. Dec. 21, 1905, London, England, d. Nov. 3, 1958, New York, NY, USA.
Overview:
Composer Harry Revel left Europe and came to the United States in the late 1920's. His meeting with lyricist Mack Gordon was the start of a great songwriting team. Their first Broadway show tunes were unsuccessful, but they began to achieve notable success in the songs written for the movies, about 1933. The team stayed together for ten years.

Harry's piano studies began at age nine, and continued, in Austria and Germany, during his boyhood. In 1920, when he was just 15, he joined an Hawaiian band in Paris, and wrote the song "Oriental Eyes", which was published in Italy. He then joined a European orchestra calling itself 'The New York Jazz Band', which toured all the European capital cities. He continued as a pianist with various continental dance bands for the next 10 years.

While in Berlin, Revel had his first taste of writing for the stage, when he composed the operetta "Was Frauen Traumen". In 1925, Revel gave a Command Performance for the Royal Family of Italy, playing the piano. In 1927, he sold some material to Andre Charlot, a London revue producer. In 1928, Revel came to America, establishing permanent residence and becoming a naturalized citizen.

A chance meeting with the vaudevillian Mack Gordon, a part time lyricist, proved fruitful for both men. At first, the team toured the vaudeville circuits, with Revel acting as Gordon's pianist, and then they started writing songs together. It was the start of a great success.

In 1931, the music of Gordon and Revel was in three different Boadway shows. Revel was just 26 yrs old. One of the shows was Florenz Ziegfeld's own last version of his 'Follies'. The all Negro revue 'Fast and Furious' also featured their tunes.

1932 They had tunes in the shows 'Smiling Faces' and 'Marching By'.

In 1931, Paramount Pictures signed Harry Revel and Mack Gordon, as a team, and brought them out to the west coast.

In 1933, the team arrived in Hollywood. Among other jobs, they wrote for all of the Shirley Temple films. Some of their other successes were:

For film, 'Sitting Pretty',
   "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking,"
For film, 'Broadway Through a Keyhole',
   "Doin' the Uptown Lowdown"
   "You're My Past, Present and Future"
For Film 'College Rhythm', (with Lyda Roberti, the 'Polish Bombshell')
   "Stay As Sweet As You Are"
For Film, 'We're Not Dressing', starring Bing Crosby
   "Love Thy Neighbor"
   "Goodnight My Love"
   "May I?"
For film, 'Shoot The Works',
   "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming."
For film, 'The Gay Divorcee',with Astaire and Rogers,
   "Don't Let It Bother You"
For film, 'Two For Tonight',
   "From the Top of Your Head to the Tip of Your Toes"
   "The Words Are in My Heart"
For film, 'Love in Bloom'
   "The Loveliness of You"
For film, 'Paris in the Spring', The title song,
   "Paris in the Spring".
For film, 'The Poor Little Rich Girl',
   "When I'm With You"
   "A Star Fell Out of Heaven"
For film, 'Head Over Heels in Love',
   "May I Have the Next Romance with You?"
For film, 'Collegiate',
   "I Feel Like a Feather in the Breeze"
For film, 'Wake Up and Live',
   "Wake Up and Live"
   "Never In A Million Years"
   "There's a Lull in My Life"

In 1935, Gordon and Revel received nine Academy of Motion Picture
      Arts and Sciences awards, for nine different songs.

In 1936, Gordon and Revel left Paramount for Twentieth Century-Fox.
In 1937, Fox loaned the duo to Gaumont British Studios.

In 1939, the team of Revel and Gordon split up. Revel then worked
with lyricists Mort Greene and Paul Francis Webster. In the 1940's,
He only produced 5 successful songs.

In 1945, Revel wrote the music, and Arnold B. Horwitt wrote the lyrics, for the Broadway musical comedy show, 'Are You With It?'. Revel, with Paul Francis Webster, also wrote some material for Hollywood. Capitol Records recorded some of Revel's "therapeutic' music, such as "Music For Peace of Mind".

Harry Revel died at age 52, in New York City, of a cerebral hemorrhage.

   Tim Rice
Overview
This lyricist is well known for his work with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Among the shows they have scored are:
1968 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. It didn't reach Broadway until 1982
1971 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
1980 'Evita' with the hit single:
"Don't Cry For Me Argentina"

   Michael Riley
b. 1904, Fall River, Massachusetts, d.
Mike Riley is recalled today as the co-leader of the Riley-Farley Band. He is included here mainly for their only song, the late 1930's hit "The Music Goes 'Round and 'Round." The band performed long after the hit but never had another major success. Riley was one of those musicians active in Chicago during the 30's and 1940's. He often worked with musicians such as Pete Dailey (aka Daily); pianist Frank Melrose, Bud Freeman, and such. I don't believe the Mike Riley Orch. ever had a 'hit' song.