William Schroeder
Currently No Information on this Composer.
Between 1914 and 1918, he wrote the music for 3 Broadway shows.
On Dec. 25, 1914, 'Lady Luxury' opened at the Casino Theatre, and on Jan. 11, 1915 moved to the Comedy Theatre. (Book by Rida Johnson Young)
On April 30, 1917, 'His Little Widows' opened at the Astor Theatre. (Book by Rida Johnson Young; Lyrics by Rida Johnson)
On May 30, 1918, 'Biff! Bang!' opened at the Century Theatre. (Book: Philip Cunning, Robert Cohen, William Israel)

   Norbert Schultze
b: Jan. 26, 1911, Braunschweig, Germany. d: Oct. 14, 2002, Bad Toelz, Bavaria. Germany
From 1929 to 1931, Schultze, the son of a professor of medicine, studied at the Hochschule fr Musik in Cologne, with Hermann Abendroth, Philip Jarnach and Julia Menz. He also studied dramatics with Carl Niessen in Munich, where he took part in a cabaret group. In 1932, he first led an orchestra in Heidelberg, and again led an orchestra in 1933 at Darmstadt. From 1934 to 1936, He worked as an assistant at Telefunkenplatte Berlin. By 1938, he was composing light music. His first stage work was a 1936 children's fairy-tale opera, "Schwarzer Peter", followed by his 1937 ballet, "Struwwelpeter", and his first film music, for a documentary, Der Stern von Tetuan (1939).

Schultze composed some 'Pop' songs, but perhaps the only one to achieve any great fame was his 1938 composition "Lili Marlene". Curiously, this tune was not only popular with the German Troops during WWII, but also among the American and English soldiers as well. Hans Leip originally wrote the poem, "The Song of a Young Sentry", in 1915, while serving as a soldier in the German army on the western front. The lyric told the familiar tale of a prostitute waiting outside the barracks for a young soldier, who had already left for the trenches remembering her kisses. The tune had been forgotten almost before it was written. In 1938, Schultze offered the song to a German cabaret performer, Lale Andersen, who recorded it in 1939, and that too was a flop. The tune was largely forgotten until it was aired on August 18 1941 by Karl-Heinz Reintgen, then working for the German army radio station in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, that was widely heard in the Balkans, southeastern Europe and north Africa. This time around, the song was immediately adopted by the soldiers of General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, who made the song and the record a huge success.

Singer Gianna Pederzini recorded the tune in Italy. In 1942, it was next translated into French by Henry Lemarchand as "Lily" Marlene and was sung and recorded by Suzy Solidor, one of the most glamorous, and notorious Parisian cabaret stars of the time, Interestingly, Solidor specialized in songs about sailors, and so for the French sheet music cover the trooper became a matelot. The song soon found it's way to England when vocalist Anne Shelton released a popular recording. In 1944, when America entered WWII, the glamorous actress Marlene Dietrich began to use it in her USO tours and shows for allied troops. Marlene later related that she sang the song ".....in Greenland, Iceland, a little bit of England, in Belgium and Holland, in Sicily and Italy, into Germany and Czechoslovakia". The song would become so closely associated with Dietrich that even today many people assume it was written just for her. In 1963, when Marlene appeared at Albert Hall in London for the El Alamein reunion she sang it again, with Field Marshal Montgomery leading the ovation, --the same man who had defeated Rommel's Afrika Korps. In 1967, Marlene again sang the song in heer one woman Broadway show.

All during WWII, Schultze composed many musical scores for German propaganda films which depicted such scenes as the invasion of Poland, the North African offensive, the bombing raids on Britain, and the Russian campaign.

From 1956 to 1996, he served on the Board of Trustees of the GEMA Welfare Fund, and from 1963 to 1965, he was a member of GEMA's Board of Supervisors. From 1959 to 1996, he served on the Board of Trustees of the German composers pension foundation. .From 1973 to 1991, Schultze was on the Executive Board of the German Composers' Association.

Among his other (concert) works are the children's opera "Schwarzer Peter" (1936) and the opera "Das Kkalte Herz" (1943). In 1950, his musical "K�t'n Bay-Bay" was first heard with the 'evergreen' "Nimm' mich mit, Kapit� auf die Reise". Schultz may have written well over 50 pieces of film music, including his 1943 "Symphonie Eines Lebens", and his 1957, "Das Maedchen Rosemarie".

Among his awards are the 1975 presentation of the Paul Lincke Ring, and , in 1981, he received the Golden Pin of the Dramatists' Union. in 1996, on his 85th birthday, Schultze was presented with GEMA's Ring of Honour, both for his dedication to the GEMA, and for his work in safeguarding intellectual property and the financial protection of all composers.

Talking about "Lili Marlene", GEMA's Chief Executive Officer Reinhold Kreile once said:
  "In just a few bars, a stroke of composition genius has expressed all the
        vitality of a whole generation in a folk-type
        melody that has also become afolk-song, because
        this melody made its way right round the world.
        Friends and enemies sang it, and it is still universal, still and once again a song sung by all peoples."

It may never be known if Schultze ever succeeded in gathering all the royalties that were due to him. Still, he was an active member of the German performing rights organisation. He was 91 years old when he died.

   Gerard Schurmann
Currently, Schurmann lives in America, but he was born in Indonesia of Dutch parents in 1928. He emigrated to England where he wrote film scores as well as serious concert music. His scores include The Lost Continent and The Man in the Sky. On some of his films, he has been credited with such names as: Gerard Schurmann, Gerbrand Schurmann, and Gerard Schrmann.
Other films to which he contributed are:
Gambler, The (1997. aka Hungary: J��os, A)
Attack on the Iron Coast (1968)
Lost Continent, The (1968 credited as Gerard Schrmann. Film was aka:
       aka Dying Sea, The (1968 UK video title)
       aka Lost Island (1968)
       aka People of Abrimes, The (1968)
Bedford Incident, The (1965)
Ceremony, The (1963. aka Spain: Encrucijada mortal)
Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1962. aka USA TV: Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, The)
Cone of Silence (1961. aka USA: Trouble in the Sky)
Konga (1961)
Headless Ghost, The (1959)
Horrors of the Black Museum (1959)
Vikings, The (1958 uncredited)
Camp on Blood Island, The (1958)
Man in the Sky, The (1957 aka USA: Decision Against Time. Credited as Gerbrand Schurmann)
Long Arm, The (1956 aka USA: Third Key, The. credited as Gerbrand Schurmann)
Cruel Sea, The (1953 uncredited)

   Arthur Schwartz
b. Nov. 25, 1900, Brooklyn, N.Y., d. 1984, Kintnersville, PA
Overview:
Arthur Schwartz got his start writing music for Broadway in the late 1920s. Before entering the entertainment industry, he was an educator and an attorney. He was most active scoring and writing songs for films and the Broadway stage from the 1930s through the 1940s. His principal collaborator was lyricist Howard Dietz, with he wrote most of his most famous melodies. A very interesting sidelight to their careers is that few of the shows and movies for which they wrote songs ever became hit plays. But, many of the compositions written for those shows, such as "You and the Night and the Music," "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan," "That's Entertainment," "A Shine on Your Shoes," "Under Your Spell," and "What a Wonderful World" all became "standards" of the Popular repertoire. As a child, he taught himself harmonica and piano and was already playing for silent films at the age of 14. His father, an attorney, urged him to study law, and after graduating first from New York and Columbia Universities, he was admitted to the Bar in 1924. Schwartz Concurrent with his studies, he worked on songwriting and had already published his first song by 1923. Acquaintances like Lorenz Hart and George Gershwin encouraged him to continue composing and in 1928, he first met Howard Dietz, the lyricist with whom he would do his best work. A year later, their first songs heard in Broadway's 'The Little Show' included "I've Made a Habit of You" and "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan." He reteamed with Dietz for 1961's The Gay Life.

Another of those composers who's musical inclinations were evident even in youth. Arthur started out by playing the harmonica as a child, all the while inventing little songs. He followed this by teaching himself to play the piano. He taught himself so well, that by age 14, he was able to get a job as pianist for the silent films showing in Brooklyn's Cortelyou Theater. Also, in common with many other composers, his attorney father insisted he become a lawyer. After attending the public schools of Brooklyn, Arthur got his BA degree, in 1920, from New York University. At NYU, he did take a course in musical harmony, his only formal music study, and wrote some college songs. Arthur got his Master's, in 1921, from Columbia University. He then studied at the Columbia University Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1924. While studying the Law, he supported himself by teaching English in the New York school system, all the while writing popular songs, on the side. 1923 saw his first published song, "Baltimore, MD, You're the Only Doctor for Me".

In spite of this, and also in common with other composers, he never drifted away from his beloved music. For several summers, he assisted in writing and producing shows at a boys camp, the Brant Lake Camp. At times he worked with Lorenz Hart, who would later become the world famous lyricist writing to the music of Richard Rodgers. It was Lorenz who later would encourage Arthur to leave the practice of Law, and follow a career in music.

In 1925, Arthur had an opportunity to play some of his songs for George Gershwin, who gave him much encouragement. While practicing Law, he was also writing special material for vaudeville. and other shows, He also used a pseudonym for some songs at times. Two of his songs were performed in the 'Garrick Gaieties of 1926',"Polar Bear Strut" and "A Little Igloo For Two".

1928 was a seminal year for Schwartz. He met a young man named Howard Dietz, whose lyrics he heard while attending the Broadway show 'Merry Go Round'. It was Dietz, in his capacity of publicity director for MGM, who came up with the MGM motto of 'Ars Gratia Artis' and the roaring lion trademark. Dietz, in his spare time, wrote song lyrics, one of which was in the Broadway musical 'Poppy' (starring W.C. Fields), and another was also in a Broadway show called 'Dear Sir' (score by Jerome Kern). Schwartz was completely taken by Dietz's verses and wit and badgered him until Dietz finally agreed to write some lyrics to Schwartz' music.

Their first score was heard in the 1929 Broadway hit 'The Little Show', an intimate, sophisticated revue starring Fred Allen, Clifton Webb and Libby Holman. This show had songs such as:
        "Little Old New York"
       "I've Made a Habit of You"
       "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans". (This tune was one of those that Schwartz had written for the Brant Lake Camp shows some years previously, to a lyric by Lorenz Hart.)

Curiously, the 'Second Little Show' produced in 1930, was a failure. But their other 1930 show 'Three's a Crowd' was a hit. It had the same intimate and sophisticated style of the 'Little Show' along with the same stars. Libby Holman sang the hit 'Something to Remember You By".

George S. Kaufman and Howard Dietz wrote the book for the successful 1931 show 'The Bandwagon', later adapted twice for Hollywood film productions. Some of the shows songs were:
        "Dancing in the Dark", was the big hit.
       "New Sun in the Sky"
       "I Love Louisa"

Brief Chronolgy of Schwartz and Dietz shows:
1932 for show 'Flying Colors'
        "Alone Together"
        "Louisiana Hayride"
        "A Shine on Your Shoes"
1934 the Broadway show 'Revenge With Music' was a failure. The plot of this play was used in the Manuel De Falla ballet 'The Three Cornered Hat' and in Hugo Wolf's opera 'Der Corregidor'. Even though the show flopped, two songs have remained popular:
        "If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You"
        "You and the Night and the music"
1935 for show 'At Home Abroad'
        "Love is a Dancing Thing"

Arthur's songs were being heard in the Movies during this time, albeit with other lyricists. For example:
1934 for film, 'She Loves Me Not' starring Bing Crosby
        "After All, You're All I'm After", lyric by Edward Heyman
1936 for film, 'The Girl From Paris', starring Lily Pons
        "Seal It With A Kiss", lyric by Edward Heyman
1936 A radio serial show 'The Gibson Family' ran for 34 weeks with music by Arthur Schwartz. 1937 the Broadway show. 'Between the Devil', another of his failures.
       "I See Your Face", lyric by Dietz.

While Schwartz's film songs were hits, unfortunately, his Broadway efforts were less successful. Six successive failures in a row must have been galling.

In 1941, Hollywood called Arthur back for a few years. Various films used his songs, including:
       'Cairo', starring Jeanette MacDonald
        'Thank Your Lucky Stars', Betty Davis sang the WW2 lament
        "They're Either Too Young or Too Old", lyric by Frank Loesser.
Schwartz then became a producer of Hollywood films, including: 'Cover Girl', scored by Jerome Kern; and 'Night and Day', -Cole Porter's screen biography starring Cary Grant. While the film bore little resemblence to Cole's life, it never-the-less recapped many of his best songs and was entertaining.
1948 for Broadway show 'Inside U.S.A.'
        "Rhode Island Is Famous for You"
       "Haunted Heart"
1951 the Broadway show 'A Tree Grows In Brooklyn', starring Shirley Booth, had such songs as:
       "Love is the Reason", lyric by Dorothy Fields
        "I'll Buy You a Star"
1953 Schwartz wrote the film score for 'That's Entertainment', an adaptation of the 1931 Broadway musical 'The Bandwagon'. 1954 the Broadway show, 'By The Beautiful Sea', with book and text by Herbert and Dorothy Fields, also starred Shirley Booth.
        "Alone Too Long", lyric Dorothy Fields
       "More Love than Your Love", lyric Dorothy Fields

1961 The Broadway musical 'The Gay Life' again saw the team of Schwartz and Dietz writing together again. The comedy was an adaptation of the 1911 Arthur Schnitzler play, 'Anatol'.

   Nat Schwartz
Currently no information available for this lyricist.
1934 "Don't Let Your Love Go Wrong", Music George Whiting, and J. C. Johnson.

   Stephen Schwartz
b. March 6. 1948
Overview
This composer/lyricist always writes the lyric first, because he feels that lyric writing is a craft, while music is really an emotional response.

1971 The show 'Godspell' opened off-Broadway, and ran for 2,124 performances. It then opened on Broadway and ran for 527 more showings.
1973 The show 'Pippin'. Ben Vereen got a "Tony" for his role.
1978 Wrote and Directed the show 'Working', -25 performances. The music was written my such composers as Micki Grant; Craig Carnelia; James Taylor, Susan Birkenhead, and Mary Rodgers. James Taylor also supplied the music, and Matt Landers and Graciela Daniele the lyric for a song called "Un Mejor Dia Vendra." (This information is based on the credits in both the record/CD and the sheet music.)
"Millwork", music and lyric by James Taylor and lyric by Matt Landers.
Micki Grant wrote both the music and lyrics to the song "If I Could Have Been".
Thanks to Mr Shawn McCarthy for his edit of this entry on Stephen Schwartz.